HC Deb 15 July 2003 vol 409 cc219-20W
Norman Baker

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the value is by income decile of the water charges element of the local taxes line of the average income tax tables contained within the document, The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02. [125193]

John Healey

The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician. I have asked him to reply.

Letter from Len Cook to Mr. Norman Baker, dated 15 July 2003 As National Statistician, I have been asked to reply to your recent question asking what the value is by income decile of the water charges element of local taxes. (125193) Estimates for local taxes, which includes water charges, are based on the analysis "The effects of taxes and benefits on household income 2001–02" produced by the ONS and published on the National Statistics website on April 11th 2003 and in Economic Trends in the May 2003 edition. The analysis can be obtained from the House of Commons library. This includes measures of income inequality for the United Kingdom as a whole based on data from the Expenditure and Food Survey (EPS). The following table shows the estimated average water and sewerage charges paid in 2001–02 for all households in the United Kingdom and by each equivalised disposable income decile. Payments for water and sewerage charges are not collected separately within the EPS and only a combined estimate can be given.

Water charges element of local taxes by equivalised disposable income decile, 2001–02
United Kingdom
Decile Boundary point deciles between equivalised disposable income deciles(£ per year) Water charges paid (£ per year)
Bottom 8,271 221
2nd 10,412 225
3rd 12,456 211
4th 14,751 226
5th 17,249 226
6th 20,085 229
7th 23,831 230
8th 28,640 238
9th 37,544 241
Top 249
Average for all households 230

Source

Office for National Statistics, based on the analysis 'The effects of taxes and benefits on household income', published on the ONS website and in Economic Trends No.594 May 2003.