asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what current level of annual salary a single man is paying less in income tax and national insurance in real terms than in 1979.

In 1984–85, a single man whose earnings have increased in line with the average will pay a smaller proportion of his earnings in income tax and national insurance contributions than in 1978–79, if he is earning over £22,000 a year. At all income levels, those whose earnings have risen in line with the national average have seen a real increase in their take-home pay since 1978–79.