§ Mr. Ovendenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the net cost of introducing a scheme of tax credits based on a credit of £7 per week for a single person, £11 for a married couple and £4 for each child, assuming that tax allowances, child benefit, family income supplement, rent and rate rebates and free school meals were abolished; and what would be the net cost if rent and rate rebates were retained when the scheme was introduced.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 22nd March 1978], gave the following information:
I regret to say that to provide an estimate for such a scheme would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and resources.