§ Mr. Cookasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will (a) update the information on the tax-free income of a married couple with two children aged under 11 years compared with current appropriate levels of family income supplement and supplementary benefit, including average housing costs, given in his reply of 22 February 1980, Official Report, c. 339, (b) estimate the cost of raising (i) the single person's personal tax allowance, (ii) the wife's earned income allowance and (iii) the married man's tax allowance to the appropriate supplementary benefit, plus average housing costs, levels and (c) estimate the cost of raising (i) the single person's tax allowance, (ii) the wife's earned income allowance and (iii) the married man's allowance by 15 per cent.
§ Mr. Peter Rees(a) The figures for 1979–80 and 1980–81, calculated on the same basis as in the previous answer, are as follows:
(c) The costs in a full year at 1980–81 income levels of increasing the specified allowances by 15 per cent, are about:
- (i) £530 million.
- (ii) £280 million.
- (iii) £1,100 million.