asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the known benefits in kind, indicating which are not at present assessable to income tax.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1979, c. 543]: There are many ways in which benefits in kind can be provided, and it is impracticable to list them all.The following benefits in kind are wholly exempt from income tax for all employees: the provision of living accommodation where certain conditions are satisfied; the provision of death or retirement benefits; the provision of meals in a canteen; meal vouchers up to the value of 15p a day; free coal received by miners or cash allowances paid to them in lieu; the use of a pooled car available to more than one employee where the private use is incidental; and cheap or interest-free
| Category of car | AA figures with running costs for 8,000 miles | present scale benefit | ||
| Original market value up to £8,000 | ||||
| 1300 cc or less | … | … | 594 | 190 |
| 1301–1800 cc | … | … | 695 | 250 |
| over 1800 cc | … | … | 1,044 | 380 |
| Original market value over £8,000 | ||||
| costing between £8,000 and £12,000 | … | … | 1,732 | 550 |
| costing over £12,000 | … | … | 2,417 | 880 |
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of additional tax receipts in 1979–80 if car benefits are assessed regardless of income levels.
[pursuant to his reply, 13 November 1979, c. 543]: In the region of £65 million.
loans the interest on which would have qualified for tax relief.
Employees who do not come within the special rules for benefits in kind, which apply to directors and higher-paid employees, are also wholly exempt on benefits—other than medical insurance—which cannot be converted into cash, do not represent the meeting of a pecuniary liability or are not provided by means of a voucher exchangeable for goods, services or money.