§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the estimated savings in 1983–84 in various classes of benefit if (a) child benefit were raised to £15 and made taxable, (b) the tax and national insurance thresholds were raised to £1,800 single and £3,500 married, with two reduced rate bands of £1,000 at 10 per cent. and 20 per cent., respectively, for income tax and a charge of 9 per cent. on incremental income only for national insurance and (c) if both (a) and (b) were in operation at the same time.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information requested could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the Official Report a table showing approximately how many persons would cease to be eligible for means-tested benefits in each case in 1983–84 if their weekly incomes after tax rose in the case of a single person by £5 and £8, respectively, and in the case of married couples by £5, £10 and £15, respectively; and how many more persons in each case would be removed from benefit if child benefit was raised to £10 per week and £15 per week, respectively.
§ Mr. NewtonI regret that the information is not available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.