§ Miss Richardsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the savings in the 1981–82 tax year if the married man's tax allowance were abolished and replaced by a single non-transferable allowance equal to the current single person's allowance; and what are the savings attributable to taxpayers above and below pensionable age, respectively.
§ Mr. Peter ReesIf the married man's allowance were reduced to the level of the single allowance and the wife's earned income allowance continued to be available to married women, neither allowance being transferable, the yield at 1981–82 income levels, and assuming the levels of allowance proposed in the Budget, would be about £3,000 million in a full year. It is not possible to distinguish taxpayers above and below pensionable age, only those above and below 65; £500 million is attributable to taxpayers above this age and £2,500 million below.