§ Mr. Andrew SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an estimate of the number of those who will pay income tax in 1995–96; and how many people paid income tax in each year from 1978–79 to 1994–95.
§ Sir George Young[holding answer 13 March 1995]: Provisional estimates for 1993–94 and onwards are given in the table. Figures for earlier years are available in table 2.1 of "Inland Revenue Statistics 1994", a copy of which is in the Library. The increase in taxpayer numbers is largely due to economic growth. In addition, the number of people in work is increasing—UK work force in employment up 174,000 between December 1993 and December 1994.
Year estimated numbers of individuals paying tax (millions) 1993–94 25.5 1994–95 25.7 1995–96 26.2