§ Mr. McMahonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much PAYE income tax was written off as irrecoverable debt in the most recent year for which figures are available.
§ Mr. RidleyThe latest available figure is £13 million, for the year ended 31 October 1981.
§ Sir Brandon Rhys Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update his reply to the hon. Member for Kensington of 17 February 1982, Official Report, c. 150, showing the amount by which he estimates that the income tax base in 1982–83 was reduced on account of the income tax allowances, reliefs and exemptions listed in the public expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 8789-II, table 4.7.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 10 May 1983, c. 283.]: Estimates for 1982–83 are not yet available. For 1981–82, the total income of households is estimated at approximately £205 billion and this is reduced by around £105 billion by those income tax allowances, reliefs and exemptions relevant to the household sector. Some of the exemptions and so on listed in table 4.7 of Cmnd. 8789-II relate to institutions rather than to members of households — for example charities, life assurance funds. The income of these institutions has not been included in the total of £205 billion.