§ Mr. Austin Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish in the Official Report tables showing for those below pensionable age the estimated number of taxable incomes by range of income, distinguishing between single persons, married couples without wife's earned income and married couples with such income; and if he will provide an estimate of the amount which would be collected in each instance in the current financial year by way of national insurance contributions for employees and employers, respectively, if the upper limit to the employee's contribution were abolished;
(2) whether he will publish in the Official Report tables showing for those below pensionable age the estimated number of taxable incomes by range of income, distinguishing between single persons, married couples without wife's earned income and married couples with such income; and if he will provide an estimate of the amount which would be collected by way of national insurance contributions from employees if the rate of contribution were to be reduced as follows (a) single persons—5 per cent. of earnings above £2,000, (b) married couples—4 per cent. of earnings over £5,000, assuming (c) a transferable allowance in the case of two-earner households paying contributions and (d) the abolition of the upper earnings limit and the reduced rate for married women and widows.
§ Mr. MajorI have been asked to reply.
The information on incomes is as follows:
(2) Assuming that the rates and other changes to employees' class 1 contributions were as described in the second of the hon. Member's questions, and contributions liability were assessed on annual rather than weekly or monthly earnings, the gross yield from employees' contributions would be £4.7 billion. It is not possible to estimate the effect of the contracted out rebate and this figure therefore compares with an estimated notional gross yield under the existing rates structure of £13.2 billion.