HC Deb 27 January 1953 vol 510 cc98-9W
84. Miss Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual cost year by year to the Treasury of the special Income Tax allowances given in respect of married women in employment since the relief was first put into operation.

Mr. R. A. Butler

An additional personal allowance in respect of earned income of married women has been given since 1920, but the statistics available are inadequate to estimate the cost of this allowance for years prior to 1947–48.

The estimated annual cost from that year onward (including the cost of the separate reduced rate relief which has been given since 1948–49) is as follows:

£ million
1947–48 … … … … 50
1948–49 … … … … 55
1949–50 … … … … 55
1950–51 … … … … 55
1951–52 … … … … 60
1952–53 … … … … 65

It does not follow that if these allowances were withdrawn the Exchequer would benefit to the extent of the cost shown, as many married women might stop working.