Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of how many pensioners will become eligible to pay income tax as a result of the increase in the state pension.

The Government is committed to ensuring that older people are able to live with the dignity and respect they deserve. The Personal Allowance is currently set at a level high enough to ensure that those pensioners whose sole income is the full rate of the new State Pension or basic State Pension do not pay any income tax.

As with all aspects of the tax system, the Government keeps the Personal Allowance under review and any decisions on future changes will be taken by the Chancellor in the context of the wider public finances.