§ Mr. Corbettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the latest commuter fare increases, what would be the 173W annual cost of providing tax relief on commuter rail season tickets costing more than (a) £200 per annum. and (b) £300 per annum at the basic tax rate.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply—[Official Report, 16th January 1978; Vol. 942, c. 29.]—gave the following reply:
I regret that the information needed to provide the precise estimate requested is not available. The current cost of allowing expenditure on all railway season tickets at the basic rate of tax would be about £65 million.
Item 1974–75 1976–[...] Pay (including overtime*) and allowances* 92,000 200,000 Superannuation/National Insurance* 18,000 50,000 Accommodation and other Common Services (pro rata charge) 25,000 50,000 Total 135,000 300,000† * No[...] in 1974–75. [...]he 1974–75 figures are therefore no strictly comparable with those for 1976–77. † Costs have since increased by an estimated 10 per cenit. [...]argely as a result of increases [...] p[...]ce pay. Information for the financial years 1973–74 and 1975–76 is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.