HC Deb 05 April 2000 vol 347 c490W
Mr. Wigley

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect of Budget changes including the(a) abolition of the married person's tax allowance, (b) decrease in the standard rate of income tax, (c) establishment of the 10 per cent. rate of income tax and (d) indexation of tax allowances on a married woman earning £14,000 a year, who is the sole income earner for a family of a husband and two children, and who has no more than the basic tax allowances. [116831]

Dawn Primarolo

This Government have introduced a range of measures to make work pay and to improve work incentives, including the lop starting rate of income tax, basic rate cut, National Minimum Wage, National Insurance Contributions reform and the Working Families Tax Credit.

The income tax and National Insurance Contributions liability for a married woman earning £14,000 a year, who is the sole income earner for a family of a husband and two children under 11 would be £2,728 less in 2001–02 compared with the 1998–1999 regime with all of the allowances and limits increased in line with inflation. That is over £52 per week better off.

For 1998–99 it has been assumed that the woman claims the married couple's allowance and family credit.

The family would also gain from Child Benefit which increased by £179.40 per year more than inflation.