§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will estimate the average taxable income of people who do not benefit fully from the age allowance because their taxable income is less than the age allowance:
(2) whether he will provide an estimate of the number of people who do not benefit fully from the age allowance, because their taxable income is less than the age allowance.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonIt is estimated that there are about 3 million persons over 65, counting husband and wife as one, whose income is too small to be covered by the Inland Revenue's annual Survey of Personal Incomes. These are mainly people in receipt of national insurance retirement pensions only. Among those whose incomes are large enough to be included in the Survey of Personal Incomes it is estimated that for 261W 1976–77 there are about 175,000 single persons and 190,000 married couples over 65 with incomes below the age allowance. The estimated average incomes for these groups are £880 for single persons and £1,340 for the married.
§ Mrs. Chalkerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated extra annual cost of withdrawing the means-tested element in the age allowance and enabling single and married people to be entitled to it in full, regardless of their levels of income.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonAbout £80 million at 1976–77 income levels.