§ Mr. Ian Stewartasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing, for a married couple with two children aged nine and 13 years (a) the income tax threshold converted into £ sterling, (b) the income tax threshold as a percentage of average industrial earnings, (c) the initial rates at which income tax is charged, (d) the maximum rates chargeable and (e) the level of income at which maximum rates are charged converted into £ sterling, and as a percentage of 605W average industrial earnings, for each of the EEC member States and for Sweden.
Income tax threshold in £ sterling Income tax threshold as percentage of average industrial earnings Initial rates at which income tax is charged Maximum rates of income tax Level at which maximum rates became chargeable in £ sterling Col. (e) as percentage of average industrial earnings (a) (b) (c) (d) (e) (f) £ Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. £ Per cent. Belgium … 1,970 39 11.2 72 60,100 1,200 (11.9) (75.6) Denmark … 2,160 29 14.4 39.6 10,020 130 (38.1) (63.3) France … 3,535 92 3.6 60 39,580 1,025 Germany … 2,020 36 22 56 59,015 1,040 Ireland … 1,540 46 26 77 11,890 350 Italy … 1,500 56 10 72 427,350 15,880 (76) Luxembourg … 4,260 79 18.2 57.7 23,510 440 Netherlands … 2,525 43 19.2 72 34,210 590 Sweden … 1,470 22 4 57 19,570 290 (29.2) (82.2) United Kingdom … 1,720 49 35 98 22,721 645 Notes:
1. "Average Industrial earnings" have been taken as the OECD figures for the earnings of the average production worker in industry for 1976, the latest year for which these figures are available.
2. Sterling amounts have been converted at the average exchange rate for 1976.
3. Tax rates and allowances are those for 1976, except for Ireland and United Kingdom—1976–77 Personal reliefs, minimum expenses deductions, employment income relief, other flat rate reliefs and deductible social security contributions have been taken into account.
4. All income is assumed to he employment income of the husband, except for the figures in column (d). In France, Italy and the United Kingdom, the maximum rate of tax on investment income is higher than that on employment income, and the figures in column (d) reflect this. The top rates of tax on employment income in these countries are:
Per cent. France … 54 Italy … 72 United Kingdom … 83 5. Figures in brackets include local income taxes:
in Belgium—at the rates payable by the majority at the population.
in Denmark—at the Copenhagen rate.
in Italy—at the rates payable by the majority of the population.
in Sweden—at the average local rate.