Written question asked by David Laws (Liberal Democrat) on Wednesday, 2 February 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 9 February 2005. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Wednesday, 9 February 2005 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many people he estimates faced combined marginal tax and benefit deduction rates of (a) over 50 per cent., (b) over 60 per cent. and (c) over 70 per cent. in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 2003-04 and (iii) 2004-05; what estimate he has made of the figures for 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. - Includes no figures.

Answer: Mr. Laws: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people he estimates faced combined marginal tax and benefit deduction rates of (a) over 50 per cent., (b) over 60 per cent. and (c) over 70 per cent. in (i) 1996-97, (ii) 2003-04 and (iii) 2004-05; what estimate he has made of the figures for 2005-06; and if he will make a statement. [214812] Dawn Primarolo: Forward looking estimates of numbers of working households facing high marginal deduction rates have been published each year in the Budget and pre-Budget reports. Each estimate is based on the best information and methodology available at the time, but the numbers published in different reports are not necessarily comparable.

Secondary information