HC Deb 20 January 1977 vol 924 cc309-10W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost if the present structure of single persons', married couples' and wives' earned income allowances were replaced by a single, uniform, adult tax allowance of £910.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

To replace the present personal tax allowances, including the age allowances, by uniform allowances of £910 for single people and £1,820 for a married couple would cost about £2,200 million at 1976–77 levels of income.

I regret that information is not available from which to estimate the cost of taxing husbands and wives as separate individuals each entitled to a single allowance.