§ Mr. Tim Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the age allowances and the claimant's total income limit would have to be increased to restore their April 1973 purchasing power.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonNo proper comparison can be made with April 1973 since the age allowances were not introduced until 1975–76 and their predecessor, the age exemption, was subject to different rules. If the comparison is made with April 1975, then on the basis of the rise in the General Index of Retail Prices between April 1975 and January 1978, the single age allowance would have to be increased by £140, the married age allowance by £120 and the income limit by £900.