§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many wage and salary earners received—within £1—as much in selective assistance as they paid out in income tax in the latest year for which the figures are available;
(2) what would be the net cost, after taking into account saving on all selective benefits, of raising the tax threshold to the level necessary to ensure that all those who presently receive as much in selective benefits as they pay out in income tax were no longer liable to tax in the first place.
§ Dr. GilbertAssuming that the hon. Member is referring to means-tested benefits I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.