§ Ms. Clare Shortasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of self-employed in each tax band in each year since 1979.
Single people and married couples liable to tax with main source self employment income thousands Marginal rate of tax1 (per cent.) 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 25 2257 .. .. .. .. .. 30 21,120 1,340 1,380 1,460 1,590 1,670 40 44 42 53 54 47 55 45 38 35 43 42 46 51 50 29 31 36 33 36 35 55 13 13 18 17 15 16 60 17 23 27 26 23 24 Total 1,520 1,490 1,550 1,630 1,760 1,850 1 Highest rate of income tax on total income (including investment income) excluding investment income surcharge. 2 Figures for 1979–80 are on a slightly different basis from that for later years. As a result, the total of those liable at 25 and 30 per cent. may be understated relative to later years by about 20,000. Differences for higher rates are negligible.