HC Deb 18 January 1990 vol 165 cc403-4
14. Mr. Bernie Grant

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what submissions he has received in respect of his 1990 Budget.

Mr. Lilley

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations from a variey of individuals and organisations.

Mr. Grant

Has the Minister received representations about the growing gap between rich and poor, and the now poorer underclass in inner cities—o have to live in cardbord boxes and scrounge in rubbish bins for something to eat? Will he guarantee to the House that he will not reduce personal income tax but will increase public expenditure to ensure that those people have a reasonable chance of survival?

Mr. Lilley

I certainly cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement on tax matters. Had the tax rates and allowances in real terms that we inherited from the Labour Government been retained, people would be worse off at every level of income. Under this Government, the rise in real living standards, even of a married couple on half average earnings with two children, has been 25 per cent., whereas under the Labour Government it was only 4 per cent.