§ Mr. AllenTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the increase in personal allowances would have to be if the married couples' allowance were frozen in cash terms at the level it is at the present time, so that post-tax real income remained constant for the average married couple; and what would be the cost of each of these changes and the combined cost.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 23 July 1990]: This would depend on the rates of growth in the various categories of income subject to income tax between the current year and the future year for which the comparison is required as well as the inflation rate.
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(v) further improvements in service, aimed at minimising burdens on business and the travelling public, and making significant improvements in the information and services the Department provides.I have asked the chairman of Customs and Excise to draw up an action programme for making these changes, with the objective of having the executive unit structure in place by April 1991. The first step will be to publish the departmental framework document in the autumn. At the same time, the Department will publish the first individual framework documents in a series which will set out the objectives and responsibilities of each executive unit. The programme will be kept under review, and this will include consideration whether certain of the units should become candidates for conversion into freestanding agencies.
Each Department has already made considerable progress in improving its management. But these are important changes. I am confident that operating fully on "next steps" lines the two Departments will deliver further significant improvements in the way they are managed and, in turn, greater efficiency, better service to the public and enhanced commitment and enthusiasm from their staff.