§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the number of North East resident employees currently with foreign earnings who will be affected by the withdrawal of the foreign earnings deduction. [47600]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 29 June 1998]: I regret that the information requested is not available.
§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will estimate the number of employees currently receiving the foreign earnings deduction, the ranges of their foreign income, and the revenue benefit estimated in a full financial year from the withdrawal of foreign earnings deductions for employees; [47599]
(2) what is the total estimated revenue benefit in a full financial year of the withdrawal of the foreign earnings deductions. [47601]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 29 June 1998]: In 1996–97, the last year for which data are available, about 35,000 employees received the foreign earnings deduction. Of this total, about 15,000 seafarers will be unaffected by the changes. Reliable estimates by the range of foreign earnings are not available. Abolition of the foreign earnings deduction for all employees except seafarers will yield about £250 million in a full year.