§ Mr. Fauldsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances he has powers to make special grants; and for what sorts of purposes these grants may be made.
§ Mr. BiffenI have powers to make grants only for purposes approved by Parliament. If the hon. Member has in
Budget cost (£ million) Numbers (thousands) (a) Tax units paying above the basic rate at 1979–80 rates and allowances 323 1,080 (b) Tax units paying at the basic rate at 1979–80 rates and allowances 1,136 18,890 (c) Tax units paying at the 25 per cent. rate at 1979–80 rates and allowances 80 2,110
§ Miss Richardsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers will cease to pay tax as a result of the increase in personal allowances; and how many higher rate taxpayers will cease to pay higher-rate tax as a result of the increase in the higher rate threshold.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 14 April 1980]: About 1,300,000 taxpayers, including 600,000 wives with earnings, are expected to be kept out of tax by the increase in personal allowances. About 400,000 tax units—counting married couples as one—are kept out of higher rate tax by the increases in allowances and thresholds, of whom about 250,000 are kept out by the increase in the higher-rate threshold. These figures refer to the numbers who would have been liable to tax at the 1979–80 level of allowances and thresholds but who are not liable at the proposed level of allowances and thresholds.
610Wmind grants for a specific purpose, I suggest he should write to me or to the Minister responsible for the service.