HC Deb 13 March 1964 vol 691 cc101-2W
Mr. Longden

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer below what annual income a family consisting of parents and three children are now receiving net subsidy from the State; and how many taxpayers have incomes below that figure.

Mr. Maudling

would commend to my hon. Friend the article "The incidence of taxes and social service benefits in 1961 and 1962" published in the February, 1964, issue of Economic Trends. The figures given in Table 2 of this article suggest that in 1962, for a household of two adults and three children, the income below which benefits exceeded taxes was probably in the range of £1,196-£1,448. The number of households of that type in the sample was, however, too small for any estimate of the exact figures to be made. Estimates of the numbers of taxpayers in 1960–61 analysed by income range and family circumstances were given in Table 71 of the 105th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 1906). Corresponding figures for 1961–62 will be given in the 106th Report, due to be published on 25th March.