§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net cost to the Exchequer in 1983–84 of replacing all the present allowances and reliefs for personal income tax by a personal allowance for married couples only of £1,800 plus a wife's earned income allowance of £1,000 plus 10 per cent. of earnings and (a) a reducing nil rate band of £1,800, analagous to the current allowance, to be reduced to 30 per cent. of the amount of total income in excess of £5,800 and £7,600 for single persons and married couples, respectively, and (b) a reduced rate band of £1,000 at 10 per cent.
§ Mr. RidleyI regret that even an approximate estimate could be provided only at disproportionate cost.