HC Deb 16 February 1978 vol 944 cc354-5W
Mr. Ralph Howell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of revenue that is lost due to the fact that short-term benefits are exempt from taxation.

Mr. Newton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated extra annual revenue if national insurance sickness and unemployment benefits were treated as earned income for income tax purposes.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The latest estimates of the potential revenue yield, on short-term benefits, based on expenditure for 1977–78 in Great Britain calculated at benefit rates that applied during the year, are as follows:

£ million
Unemployment Benefit 200
Sickness Benefit 180
Industrial Injury Benefit 15
Maternity Allowance 20

These are approximate figures, since the information on which to base precise calculations is not available.