§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many (a) one—parent, and (b) two—parent families in full—time work had earnings below the tax threshold in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI regret that information is not available in precisely the form requested, but in Great Britain the number of families with income below the tax threshold where the head of the family was in full time employment or was self—employed for 1974 and 1975 was:
578W
One-parent families Two-parent families '000 '000 1974 … 60 250 1975 … 40 210 These figures have been derived from the Family Expenditure Survey. I regret that the analysis from which they have been obtained has not been carried out for years before 1974.
§ Mr. Richard Wainwrightasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish an estimate in the Official Report of the number of (a) single parents, and (b) married couples with children whose earnings were insufficient for them to claim all or part of their personal and child tax allowances in each year since 1970.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe figures for Great Britain are as follows:
Single parents Married couples '000 '000 1974 … 340 610 1975 … 360 540 These figures have been derived from the Family Expenditure Survey. I regret that the analysis from which they have been obtained has not been carried out for years before 1974.