§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister what is (a) the average cost of social security payments in the United Kingdom per head of the working population and (b) the average amount of income tax paid in the United Kingdom per head of the working population.
§ The Prime MinisterIn 1985–86 the cost of social security payments is expected to be £40.6 billion and the working population is 27.5 million. The cost of social security is met from a mixture of taxation and contribution income; if this was ascribed exclusively to the working population, their average share of the cost would be £1,480.
The total amount of income tax to be paid in 1985–86 by taxpayers under the age of 65 is estimated to be £31.2 billion. Divided amongst the working population, this gives an average payment of £1,130.