§ Mr. Pardoeasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out a table showing for 1960, 1964, 1970 and each 117W of the last four quarters for which figures are available at 1973 prices the total of wages, salaries and social security payments, the total of taxes and national insurance contributions, the difference between these two totals, and the percentage increase or decrease of this difference on the previous year.
§ Mr. NottThere is no satisfactory basis for allocating taxes on income—which are assessed on the basis of total income of individuals—to components of this income. On the basis of total personal income—including Forces' pay, current grants from public authorities, income from self-employment and other personal income—the estimates of personal disposable income, after deducting taxes on income, national insurance, etc., contributions and net transfers abroad, at 1970 prices, are as follows:
PERSONAL DISPOSABLE INCOME AT 1970 PRICES Increase over the year previous Total £ million £ million percentage 1960 27,073 1,674 6.6 1964 30,739 1,110 3.7 1970 34,367 1,116 3.4 Seasonally adjusted 1972— 3rd quarter 9,316 507 5.8 4th quarter 9,591 639 7.1 1973— 1st quarter 9,651 669 7.4 2nd quarter 9,861 405 4.3 Estimates at 1973 prices are not available.
Units paying tax ('000) Number of Married couples Single males and widowers Single females excluding widows Widows In receipt of National Insurance retirement pension or widow's pension* 750 270 380 570 Other taxpayers over 65 110 30 20 40 * National Insurance retirement pension is payable to males at age 65 and females at age 60. Widows under 60 cannot be identified separately but the majority of those paying tax were in receipt of national insurance retirement pension and therefore aged over 60. In 1970–71 the numbers who benefited from full age exemption were 250,000 and from marginal age exemption 350,000. Those in receipt of full age exemption did not pay tax and therefore are not included in the above table. The number ineligible for age exemption relief in any form because their income was too large was 1,820,000.