I propose to take Questions Nos. 47 and 48 together.
I am advised by the Revenue Commissioners that income tax statistics do not generally distinguish between individuals who have income from pensions and from other sources. The only relevant information available is in respect of recipients of social welfare pensions, of whom some 32,000 individuals aged 65 years or over are estimated to have taxable incomes.
The total number of individuals aged 65 years or over, including individuals with income from pensions, who are estimated to be liable to income tax in the income tax year 1996-97 is of the order of 93,000. Some 31,500 of this number will qualify for marginal relief at the marginal rate of 40 per cent on total income in excess of the aged exemption limits. The balance of 61,500 will be liable to tax at the standard or higher rates and will qualify for the age allowance at an estimated cost to the Exchequer of £6 million in a full year. Statistics are not available which would enable the number of claimants for the age allowance to be classified into age groupings.