Ms. Shortasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increase in child benefit which could be obtained for a similar cost to that of the proposed change in married couples' tax allowances.
§ Mr. MooreThe cost of the proposed changes in personal taxation will depend upon a number of factors, principally the level of the single allowance under the new system, so it is not possible to give a single figure for a corresponding increase in child benefit.
Mr. Andrew Bowden asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people received (a) the single person's age allowance and (b) the married man's age allowance in 1984–85; and if he will estimate how many people will receive respectively, each allowance in 1985–86.
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§ Mr. MooreEstimates of the numbers of aged taxpayers receiving age allowances, either in full or in part, are as follows:
Single people Married couples 1984–85 1,110,000 890,000 1985–86 1,070,000 860,000 These numbers do not include those completely taken out of tax by the existence of age allowance.
§ Mr. Andrew Bowdenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many people ceased to pay income tax in 1984–85 (a) when the single person's age allowance rose from £2,360 to £2,490 and (b) when the married man's age allowance rose from £3,755 to £3,955;
(2) how many people will cease to pay tax in 1985–86 (a) because of the rise in the single person's age allowance from £2,490 to £2,690 and (b) because of the rise in the married man's age allowance from £3,955 to £4,255.
§ Mr. MooreThe following table shows the estimated reduction in the number of aged taxpayers in 1984–85 and 1985–86, compared with the position if age allowances had remained at their levels of 1983–84 and 1984–85 respectively.
Reductions in aged taxpayers Single people Married couples 1984–85 85,000 70,000 1985–86 125,000 105,000