§ Mr. Austin MitchellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in theOfficial Report a table showing his estimate of the number of single persons and married couples aged 65 to 79 and the numbers aged 80 and over, the distribution by income of those subject to tax, and the numbers benefiting from age relief in whole or in part and at what cost to the Exchequer; and if he will provide a similar estimate for 1990–91.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 29 July 1988]: Estimates of the numbers of single persons and married couples aged 65 and over in 1988–89 and the distribution of income for those liable to income tax are given in the tables. In 1988–89, about 2.5 million single persons and married couples, including half a million non-taxpayers, benefit from the age allowances at a cost to the Exchequer of about £400 million. Costs in 1990–91 will depend on the levels of the age allowances.
Number of single people and married couples aged 65 and over in 1988–89 Thousands Age Single persons 1Married couples 65–79 3,300 2,400 80 and over 1,700 500 Total aged 65 and over 5,000 2,900 1 Based on the age of the husband or the wife, whichever is the elder. 932W
Taxpayers1 aged 65 and over2 by range of total income 1988–893 Total income (lower limit) £ per annum Thousands 3,000 230 4,000 300 5,000 330 6,000 280
Income (lower limit) Number of wives with earned income in range Number of married couples (with wives earnings) with joint total income2 in range £ per annum ('000) ('000) All ranges 7,480 7,480 1 Excluding some wives with earnings below the PAYE reporting limit and self-employed wives making a net loss. 2 Combined income of husband and wife.
Total income (lower limit) £ per annum Thousands 7,000 260 8,000 210 9,000 160 10,000 240 12,000 170 15,000 210 20,000 80 25,000 40 30,000 90 All 2,600 1 Single person or a married couple. 2 Either husband or wife is aged 65 or over. 3 Estimates are based on a projection of the 1985–86 survey of personal incomes and are provisional.