§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the additional yield to the Revenue in a full year (a) if unemployment benefit were subject to income tax, (b) if sickness benefit were subject to income tax and (c) if supplementary benefit were subject to income tax.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldonpursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th June 1975; Vol. 894, c. 108], circulated the following answer:
The estimated additional yields for 1975–76 from taxing unemployment and sickness benefits are £150 million and £160 million respectively. I regret that the information on which to base an estimate of the yield to the Revenue from making supplementary benefits taxable is not available.