§ Mr. Gordon Wilsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures the Government have taken in the financial year 1982–83 to ease the tax burden on the low-paid and help eliminate the poverty trap.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 15 March 1983, c. 128]: Personal allowances were increased in real terms in 1982–83. This increase was proportionately of greater benefit to the low paid than to basic rate taxpayers generally, and alleviated the poverty trap by taking some low-paid families out of tax altogether. It has been possible to achieve much more for 1983–84.