asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, consequent upon his statements, Official Report, 12 June, c. 261–2, that as a result of his Budget a married couple with a husband earning £100 a week would be £1·30 a week better off, a couple with a husband earning £60 a week would be 75p a week better off, and a couple with a husband earning £150 a week would be nearly £2 a week better off, if he will now state the net gain or loss for each of these couples taking into account the factors involved in his original calculation, together with all price rises that have taken place since then, and in addition, the forthcoming increase in mortgage rates, assuming that those couples would each be buying an average two-bedroomed house.
I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Inland Revenue is planning in the near future to make any special arrangements with regard to income tax for any particular groups of workers.
The Inland Revenue makes arrangements from time to time in respect of various groups of employees—for example, flat rate allowances for tools or special clothing. If my hon. Friend has any particular point in mind, I will be pleased to look into it.