§ Mr. Fieldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the increases in staff required, their cost and the tax revenue gained from taxing short-term social security benefits.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe administrative cost of taxing short-term benefits depends
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TAX THRESHOLDS Year Single Married Married 1 child aged under 11 Married 2 children aged under 11 Married 4 children 2 under 11 2 11 to 16 £ £ £ £ £ 1948–49 … 144 231 306 381 531 1949–50 … 146 233 308 383 533 1950–51 … 146 233 308 383 533 1951–52 … 146 246 333 421 596 1952–53 … 163 279 388 498 716 1953–54 … 163 279 388 498 716 1954–55 … 163 279 388 498 716 1955–56 … 191 320 448 577 834 1956–57 … 192 321 449 578 835 1957–58 … 192 321 449 578 899 1958–59 … 193 322 450 579 900 1959–60 … 193 322 450 579 900 1960–61 … 193 322 450 579 900 1961–62 … 203 332 460 589 910 1962–63 … 203 332 460 589 910 1963–64 … 285 440 588 735 1,095 1964–65 … 285 440 588 735 1,095 1965–66 … 283 437 585 733 1,093 1966–67 … 283 437 585 733 1,093 1967–68 … 283 437 585 733 1,093 1968–69 … 283 437 585 687 954 1969–70 … 328 482 630 724 976 1970–71 … 418 598 746 840 1,092 1971–72 … 418 598 797 942 1,297 1972–73 … 591 771 971 1,116 1,471 1973–74 … 595 775 975 1,115 1,465 1974–75 … 625 865 1,105 1,293 1,739 1975–76 … 675 955 1,195 1,383 1,829 1976–77 … 735 1,085 1,385 1,633 2,199 1977–78 … 945 1,455 1,703 1,951 2,517 1978–79 … 985 1,535 1,769 2,002 2,539 on a number of factors including the availability of computers in the Inland Revenue and the paying departments and the system of taxation adopted. The latest estimate of the potential yield of tax on short-term benefits, based upon expenditure for 1978–79 in Great Britain calculated at benefit rates applied during the year, is approximately £400 million.