§ Mr. Peter Bottomleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was forgone in changes in income tax and child benefit combined in each of the last four Budgets; in each case what proportion was attributable to families with children; and what proportion of taxpayers have children.
§ Mr. RidleyThe estimated costs of changes in income tax, proposed in each of the last four Budgets, at the income levels of the financial year to which they apply were set out in the Financial Statement and Budget Report issued at the time of each Budget. The references are as follows:
Table 1979–80 16 1980–81 2 1981–82 2 1982–83 2 As regards child benefit, the rate was not increased in the June 1979 Budget as it had been raised the previous April. The full year costs of the increases announced in each of the three subsequent Budgets are as follows:
Date of uprating Full year cost £ million 1980 Budget November 1980 520 1981 Budget November 1981 350 1982 Budget November 1982 420 The whole cost of the increases in child benefit is attributable to families with children. The proportion of the costs of income tax changes attributable to such families could not be estimated without disproportionate expense. In 1982–83, it is estimated that 30 per cent. of taxpayers—counting married couples as one—have dependent children.