To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated number of adults whose income is below the income tax threshold; what is the number of those above and below pensionable age distinguishing between single persons and one and two-earner married couples; and whether he will provide a breakdown of the figures for each region.
[holding answer 1 March 1990]: Available estimates for 1989–90 are given in the tables. They are based on a projection of the 1987 family expenditure survey and are provisional.
Single people and married couples not liable to tax in 1989–90
| ||||||
(millions)
| ||||||
Single people
| Married couples
| Total
| ||||
Earning
| Not earning
| Two earners
| One earner
| No earners
| ||
| Non-aged | 0·8 | 3·9 | 0·2 | 0·6 | 1·0 | 6·5 |
| Aged1 | 0·0 | 3·0 | 0·0 | 0·1 | 1·3 | 4·4 |
| Total | 0·8 | 6·9 | 0·2 | 0·7 | 2·3 | 10·9 |
1 Single person or at least one of the married couple over 65. | ||||||
Single people and married couples not liable to tax in 1989–90 by region
| ||
(millions)
| ||
Region
| Non-aged
| Aged
|
| Northern | 0·6 | 0·3 |
| Yorkshire and Humberside | 0·6 | 0·4 |
| East Midlands | 0·4 | 0·3 |
| East Anglia | 0·2 | 0·2 |
| Greater London | 0·5 | 0·4 |
| Other South East | 0·7 | 0·6 |
| South East | 0·4 | 0·4 |
| West Midlands | 0·7 | 0·5 |
| North West | 0·9 | 0·5 |
| Wales | 0·5 | 0·3 |
| Scotland | 0·8 | 0·4 |
| Northern Ireland | 0·2 | 0·1 |
| United Kingdom | 6·5 | 4·4 |