§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to ensure that no retirement pensioner with no other source of income will be liable to any income tax on his pension; how many such pensioners are at present thus liable; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th November 1975; Vol. 901, c. 291], gave the following information:
A retirement pensioner whose income consists only of the basic State retirement pension is not liable to income tax this year. It is possible for a retired widow or single women pensioner under the age of 65 to be liable for a small amount of tax if her basic pension is supplemented by an extra pension for working after the age of 60 or by a graduated pension; but the number in this position who have no other income is thought to be small.