§ Mr. NellistTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT and other indirect tax payments was paid, and what proportion of gross income is taken by these taxes, for a household with a single earner earning(a) £40, (b) £60, (c) £80, (d) £100 and (e) £600 per week in 1978–79, and in 1990–91.
§ Mrs. Gillian ShephardI regret that all the levels of earnings specified for 1990–91, and levels(a), (b) and (e) for 1978–79, fall outside the range for which reliable estimates of household indirect tax payments can be made. The figures requested for 1978–79 for earnings levels (c) and (d), for a household consisting of a one-earner couple with no children, are given in the table.
One earner-couple with no children: 1978–79 per week Gross earnings £80.00 £100.00 VAT £2.03 £2.66 As a percentage of earnings 2.5 2.7 Other indirect taxes £7.84 £9.02 As a percentage of earnings 9.8 9.0