HC Deb 03 March 1988 vol 128 cc628-9W
Mr. Alan Williams

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regional information is available on numbers and percentages of taxpayers on 50 per cent., 75 per cent., 100 per cent., 150 per cent., 200 per cent., 500 per cent., 700 per cent., 1000 per cent. and 2000 per cent. of average earnings; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Lawson

[holding answer 29 February 1988]: Information is not available in precisely the form requested. The table, based on the survey of personal incomes for 1985–86, shows the number of single people and married couples liable to tax on their total income and where the main source of income is pay. The ranges of annual pay shown in the table (of the husband in the case of married couples), are based on average full-time male weekly earnings in 1985–86 of about £198. Neither part-time nor part-year employees can be distinguished; thus those having average weekly earnings whilst in employment but working for less than half the year will be included in the less than 50 per cent. range. Pay will in some cases include taxable unemployment benefits or statutory sick pay. I regret that reliable information for the highest ranges of earnings requested is not available.

Range of pay and percentage of average fulltime male weekly earnings at an annual rate North West East Midlands
Numbers (thousands) Per cent. Numbers (thousands) Per cent.
Over 200 per cent. 36 2.2 17 1.6
Total 1,650 100.0 1,060 100.0

Numbers and percentages of single people and couples with pay as main source of income
Range of pay and percentage of average fulltime male weekly earnings at an annual rate West Midlands East Anglia
Numbers (thousands) Per cent. Numbers (thousands) Per cent.
Up to 50 per cent. 391 27.6 131 26.3
Over 50 per cent. and up to 75 per cent. 388 27.4 119 23.8
Over 75 per cent. and up to 100 per cent. 383 27.0 119 23.8
Over 100 per cent. and up to 150 per cent. 200 14.1 100 20.0
Over 150 per cent. and up to 200 per cent. 33 2.3 19 3.8
Over 200 per cent. 22 1.5 12 2.3
Total 1,420 100.0 499 100.0

Numbers and percentages of single people and couples with pay as main source of income
Range of pay and percentage of average fulltime male weekly earnings at an annual rate South East South West
Numbers (thousands) Per cent. Numbers (thousands) Per cent.
Up to 50 per cent. 1,190 23.2 283 26.1
Over 50 per cent. and up to 75 per cent. 1,190 23.1 280 25.8
Over 75 per cent. and up to 100 per cent. 1,180 23.1 264 24.4
Over 100 per cent. and up to 150 per cent. 1,040 20.2 200 18.5
Over 150 per cent. and up to 200 per cent. 313 6.1 41 3.7
Over 200 per cent. 223 4.3 17 1.5
Total 5,130 100.0 1,080 100.0

Range of pay Numbers and percentages of single people and couples with pay as main source of income
Wales Scotland Northern Ireland
Percentage of average full time male weekly earnings at an annual rate Numbers (thousands) Percentage Numbers (thousands) Percentage Numbers (thousands) Percentage
Up to 50 per cent. 191 29.9 354 24.5 103 29.4
Over 50 per cent. and up to 75 per cent. 190 29.7 404 28.0 101 29.0
Over 75 per cent. and up to 100 per cent. 117 18.3 369 25.5 74 21.2
Over 100 per cent. and up to 150 per cent. 114 17.8 245 16.9 50 14.4
Over 150 per cent. and up to 200 per cent. 20 3.2 46 3.2 14 4.1
Over 200 per cent. 8 1.2 27 1.9 7 1.9
TOTAL 639 100.0 1,450 100.0 349 100.0
Note: Members of Her Majesty's forces and the Merchant Navy are excluded from the tables.