§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Prime Minister what would be (a) the loss of revenue if income tax thresholds and national insurance thresholds were raised to £3,250 for a single person and £4,250 for a married couple and additional tax allowances of £780 were given for each child and (b) the saving in expenditure if all benefits,
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Central Government Grants and Subsidies to Local Authorities £ million—Cash 1978–79 1979–80 1980–81 1981–82 1982–83 1983–84 1984–85 England (a) Rate support grants* 6,569.7 7,171.1 7,887.4 9,000.9 9,018.8 9,067.1 8,852.8 including family income supplement, child benefit and all housing benefits and tax allowances were abolished; and what would be the net weekly spending power of a man with two children earning £110 per week with a rent of £25 and rates of £5 per week (i) now and (ii) assuming all these changes had been made simultaneously.
§ The Prime MinisterI shall reply to my hon. Friend shortly.