§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wage earners have marginal tax rates of 50 per cent. or more taking into account national insurance contributions and loss of means-tested benefits when earnings increase; and what percentage this is of all wage earners.
§ Mr. MeacherThe number of families with children who in August 1974 were theoretically subject to marginal tax rates of 50 per cent. or more was about 450,000 or about 7 per cent. of the total.
The assumptions on which this answer is based were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Wallasey (Mrs. Chalker) on 5th December.—[Vol. 901 c. 765–6.]