HL Deb 16 November 2000 vol 619 c44WA

Baroness Greengross asked Her Majesty's Government:

How much revenue would be raised if the winter fuel payment were taxed; and whether they will estimate how much more that payment would be if the money so raised were added to the current £150 winter fuel payment paid to non-taxpaying people aged over 60. [HL4338]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

Taxing the winter fuel payment of £200 would raise an estimated £150 million in tax revenue in 2000–01, increasing the tax burden of over 5 million people over the age of 60 and bringing a further 100,000 people into tax. This equates to around £20 for each non-taxpaying individual over 60 years of age.