§ Ms ArmstrongTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people currently receive(a) the married couple's allowance, (b) the additional person's allowance, (c) the widow's bereavement allowance and (d) the blind person's allowance.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 3 March 1995]Latest estimates are in the table:
Numbers benefiting from allowances in 1994–95 Thousands Married couple's allowance1 10,500 Additional personal allowance 750 Widow's bereavement allowance 120 Blind person's allowance 30 1 Number of married couples with one or both partners benefiting.
§ Ms ArmstrongTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if related allowances such as the adult and child dependency allowance will be treated as part of the income of the recipient of incapacity benefit once the benefit becomes taxable; and in how many of these cases taxing the recipient of incapacity benefit will render that person eligible for income support.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 3 March 1995]Incapacity benefit, including age-related additions and adult dependency increases, paid to new claimants after 13 April 1995, will be liable to income tax. Child dependency increases will not be liable to income tax. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the number of recipients of incapacity benefit with an income tax liability who will be eligible for income support, as a result of taxing the recipient.