HC Deb 12 April 1989 vol 150 cc519-20W
Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people in work and responsible for children will have earnings below the tax threshold in the current year.

Mr. Norman Lamont

In 1989–90, it is estimated that some 1.8 million people in work (including part-time workers and self-employed) with children earn less than the weekly equivalent of the personal allowance to which they are entitled. Of these, 1.4 million are married women. This suggests that there are 400,000 tax units with children, where the head of the household is in work and has earnings below the tax threshold.

These estimates are based on projections to 1989–90 of weekly earnings recorded in the 1986 family expenditure survey.

Mr. Frank Field

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many tax-paying units in the current year will contain children; and how many will be(a) married couples with the wife earning and (b) single-parent families with earned income.

Mr. Norman Lamont

In 1989–90, it is estimated that there are some 5.3 million taxpaying tax units with children. Of these 3.4 million are married couples where the wife has earned income and 0.3 million are working single-parent families. These estimates are based on projections of data collected in the 1986–87 survey of personal incomes and 1986 family expenditure survey.

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