§ Mr. George Cunninghamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of people who pay tax only because retirement pensions are a taxable form of income; what would be the loss to the revenue if such pensions were made untaxable like short-term social security benefits; and what is the number of staff needed now in Inland Revenue and Department of Health and Social Security offices who would not be needed if retirement pensions were not a taxable form of income.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.