§ Mr. BattleTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in 1991–92 and in a full year, assuming full indexation of tax allowances and bands, of introducing a lower basic rate of income tax of 15 per cent. on(a) the first £1,500, (b) the first £2,500 and (c) the first £5,000 of taxable income; and how much the current basic rate of income tax of 25 per cent. would have to increase to ensure that there was no net loss to the Exchequer.
§ Mr. MaudeThe direct revenue costs in a full year at 1991–92 income levels are estimated to be(a) £3.7 billion, (b) £5.9 billion and (c) £10.5 billion.
Increases in the basic rate of income tax to 27 per cent., 29 per cent. and 35 per cent., respectively, would have approximately offsetting direct revenue yields.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of people paying tax in each year since 1978–79.
§ Mr. Maude[holding answer 25 February 1991]: Information is in table 1.5 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1990." More recent estimates for the latest years are:
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Numbers of individuals paying income tax Year Thousands 1988–89 25,100 1989–901 25,800 1990–911 26,500 1 Provisional.