§ Mr. Ralph HowellTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, pursuant to his answer to the hon. Member for Barking (Ms. Richardson) of 27 February,Official Report, column 27, how many people earn less than the respective point at which the tax benefit withdrawal level falls to 34 per cent.
§ Mr. Peter Lloyd[holding answer 24 April 1989]: I have been asked to reply.
Reliable estimates are not available on the basis requested. Estimates of the number of full-time workers in receipt of income-related benefits and facing combined income tax and benefit withdrawal rates in excess of 40 per cent. were given to my hon. Friend the Member for Hornchurch (Mr. Squire) on 8 May at column 309. It is very unlikely that there are any full-time workers facing marginal deduction rates between 34 and 40 per cent.