§ Mr. Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost in a full year of increasing the tax relief for persons over 65 years of age with small incomes from the proposed £415 for single persons in the Finance Bill to, respectively, £442 197W and £450; and what estimate he has made of the cost of increasing the proposed £665 for married couples to £720.
§ Mr. Harold Lever£2 million, £2½ million and £5 million respectively for a full year.
§ Mr. Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many single persons and how many married couples over 65 years of age will be in receipt of tax relief for small incomes under the proposals in Clause 14 of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Harold LeverAbout 25,000 single persons and about the same number of married couples who would otherwise have paid some tax will be exempted by the increases in the age exemption limits under Clause 14. About 150,000 single persons and 200,000 married couples with incomes above the new exemption limits will pay less tax than they otherwise would have done.