§ Mr. WebbTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of married or cohabiting couples with children where neither partner is a higher rate taxpayer whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold by(a) less than £7,800 and (b) more than £7,800. [4075]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 16 July 2001]: The number of married or cohabiting couples with children where neither partner is a higher rate taxpayer whose combined taxable income exceeds the higher rate threshold by (a) less than £7,800 is estimated to be 500,000 and (b) more than £7,800 is estimated to be 900,000.
§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to improve the reliability of the conventions, assumptions and sampling methods used to calculate the(a) direct and (b) indirect tax burden on typical households; and if he will make a statement. [4634]
§ Mr. Andrew SmithThe conventions and assumptions used to calculate(a) the direct tax burden are reliable and are set out in the Tax and Benefit Reference Manual. On (b), as the Tax and Benefit Reference Manual has made clear, estimates on the indirect tax burden on typical households are not made because spending patterns vary considerably between households of the same type and income.