HC Deb 26 May 1976 vol 912 cc208-9W
Mrs. Sally Oppenheim

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the increase in Customs and Excise duty, excluding VAT, paid per week by an average family of two adults and two children earning £50 or less a week in each of the financial years 1973 to 1976; and what is the estimate for 1976–77;

(2) what has been the increase in Customs and Excise duty, excluding VAT, paid per week by the average household—two adults and two children—in each of the financial years 1973 to 1976; and what is the estimate for 1976–77.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

Analyses of the incidence of taxes and social service benefits are made annually and published in "Economic Trends", of which copies are to be found in the Library of the House. The analyses for 1973 and 1974, which were published in December 1974 and February 1976, are the latest available, and no estimates have been made for 1976–77.

The published analyses for 1973 and 1974 do not, however, present information in the precise form asked for and the following figures have been derived from the basic statistics employed in the production of the analyses, and must be regarded as subject to the same qualifications as apply to them:

AVERAGE WEEKLY AMOUNTS OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE DUTIES, OTHER THAN PURCHASE TAX AND VAT, FALLING DIRECTLY ON EXPENDITURE BY HOUSEHOLDS OF TWO ADULTS AND TWO CHILDREN (£)
Income before taxes and benefits
Less than £50 a week All income ranges
1973 3.00 3.35
1974 3.40 3.70