HC Deb 17 July 1985 vol 83 cc148-9W
Mr. Straw

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of persons who paid income tax in the latest available year in (a) England, (b) Wales, (c) Scotland and (d) Great Britain as a whole; and how many were aged 16 or 17 years at the time.

Mr. Moore

Provisional estimates of the numbers of income tax payers in 1985–86 by country are as follows:

*Taxpayers (thousands)
England 17,000
Wales 950
Scotland 1,700
Northern Ireland 450
United Kingdom 20,100
* Counting married couples as one.

I regret that information is not available to enable taxpayers aged 16 or 17 to be distinguished.