§ Mr. Neil TurnerTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many senior citizens in Wigan qualified for the 10 pence rate of income tax in each year since its introduction. [169355]
§ Ruth KellyAll income taxpayers benefit from the 10 pence starting rate. The Survey of Personal Incomes estimates there are about 8,000 state retirement pension age taxpayers in the Wigan constituency in 2001–02. A reliable answer cannot be given for 2000–01 because in the Survey of Personal Incomes the sample size of pensioners living in this constituency is relatively small compared to other constituencies. Figures for 1999–2000 are currently not available.