HC Deb 22 October 1984 vol 65 cc463-4W
Mr. Butterfill

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the single blind person's tax allowance; and what is the allowance for a blind married couple.

Mr. Moore

The allowance for a blind person is £360. Where both a husband and his wife are blind, they are each entitled to the allowance, making a total of £720.

Mr. Butterfill

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will estimate the number of registered blind people who have an income, excluding benefits (a) under £200 per annum and (b) under £300 per annum.

Mr. Moore

I regret that information is not available to provide the estimates requested.

Mr. Butterfill

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many registered blind people claimed the blind person's tax allowance in each of the past five years.

Mr. Moore

It is estimated that about 30,000 blind people have benefited from the blind person's tax allowance in each of the last five years.

Mr. Butterfill

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce measures to replace the tax relief for blind persons under section 18 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1970 by a cash benefit payment; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Moore

I have no plans to make such a change.

Mr. Butterfill

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the net costs, after taking into account savings on means-tested benefits, if the blind person's tax allowance were converted into a cash benefit payable at (a) £2 a week and (b) £5 a week to every registered blind person.

Mr. John Moore

Estimated net costs in a full year at 1984–85 income levels are given below:

£ million
(a) £2 a week benefit (b) £5 a week benefit
If cash benefit were taken fully into account in assessment of supplementary benefit 6 21
If cash benefit replaced supplementary benefit blindness addition 8 29

Note:

These estimates do not take account of possible savings in family income supplement or housing benefit, as it is not known how many beneficiaries of these benefits could qualify for a blind allowance.

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