Written question asked by Lord Willetts (Conservative) on Tuesday, 20 January 1998, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 27 January 1998. It was answered by Lord Bradley (Labour) on Tuesday, 27 January 1998 on behalf of the Department of Social Security.

Dept of Social Security

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security, how many individuals receiving child benefit are estimated to be paying income tax at the higher rate; and how many live in families where their partner is estimated to be paying tax at the higher rate. - Inc figures.

Answer: Mr. Willetts: To ask the Secretary of State for Social Security how many individuals receiving child benefit are estimated to be paying income tax at the higher rate; and how many live in families where their partner is estimated to be paying tax at the higher rate. [25104] Mr. Keith Bradley: An estimate for 1997-98 from the 1995-96 Family Resources Survey based Policy Simulation Model (PSM) suggests there are around 120,000 individuals receiving child benefit and paying income tax at the higher rate. The PSM also estimates that there are around 855,000 individuals receiving child benefit where their partner is paying tax at the higher rate. The estimates should be treated with some caution as they are based on survey data which uses current weekly income which may not accurately represent current annual tax liabilities. Estimates may also be influenced by sampling error and response rates. Note: 1. All figures are rounded to the nearest 5,000.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 25104; 305 c166W
Session: 1997-98
Subjects: Child benefit Income tax Recipients Social security benefits Tax rates and bands
Contains statistics: Yes