§ Mr. MacShaneTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate(a) the number of married couples entitled to child benefit whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold where neither spouse pays higher rate tax and (b) the number of married couples entitled to child benefit whose combined taxable incomes are (i) less than £35,000, (ii) £40,000, (iii) £50,000 fand (iv) less than twice the higher rate threshold, where one of the spouses is a higher rate taxpayer. [64672]
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§ Dawn PrimaroloThe number of married couples entitled to child benefit whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold for a single person and where neither spouse pays tax at the higher rate is estimated to be about 850,000 for 1998–99.
Estimates for 1998–99 for the number of married couples entitled to child benefit and where one of the spouses is a higher rate taxpayer are given in the table.
Combined taxable income Number of married couples Less than £35,000 80,000 Less than £40,000 200,000 Less than £50,000 450,000 Less than £62,5901 675,000 1 twice the higher rate threshold for a single person.