§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the tax revenue to be derived from the taxation of sickness, unemployment and supplementary benefits at present exempt from tax; what adjustments in the standard rate of income tax would be required to offset the extension of taxation to such benefits; and if he will also compare the figures for 1969, 1970 and 1971.
§ Mr. NottAbout £150 million for unemployment and sickness benefit for 1972–73 equal to about 1p off the standard rate. The figures for 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72 are about £140 million—about 3d. off standard rate; about £150 million—about 3d.; and about £175 million—about 1p. I cannot make any estimates428W for supplementary benefits but the yields are unlikely to be large.