To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have been taken out of tax over the past 11 years; if he has any plans to take more people out of tax; and if he will make a statement.

If the 1978–79 income tax regime were reintroduced after indexation of thresholds to 1990–91 levels, the number of individual taxpayers would increase by a little under 2 million. Tax thresholds have been increased by almost 25 per cent. in real terms under this Government. We shall continue to review their levels in the future.