§ 20. Mr. Kenneth Clarkeasked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration his Department has been giving to the effect on benefits for which he is responsible of proposals for a negative income tax; and whether he will publish a Green Paper setting out the results of his Department's studies into possible reforms of social security benefits and personal taxation.
§ Sir K. JosephOn the first part of the Question I have nothing to add to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg) last Tuesday. As regards a Green Paper, I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) on this subject on 23rd November, 1971.—[Vol. 829, c.416; Vol. 826, c. 1122–3.]