§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish figures tabulating the estimated costs of increasing each of the main personal allowances, including the age allowances, in accordance with section 22(2) of the Finance Act 1977.
§ Mr. Peter ReesThe percentage by which the allowances should be increased will not be known until the index of retail prices for January is published later this month. Figures based on the increase in the index of 17.2 per cent. between December 1978 and December 1979 are as follows:
Allowance New value Cost £ million (Full year at 1979–80 income levels) £ Single/wife's, earned income 1,366 750 Married 2,128 1,050 Additional personal 762 10 Age allowance single 1,806 65 Married 2,879 90 Aged income limit 5,862 85 The costs are based on the cumulative results of changing each of the allowances successively in the order listed. The allowances shown do not incorporate any rounding that would be needed for the operation of the PAYE scheme.