HC Deb 19 July 1923 vol 166 cc2493-4
71. Mr. HANCOCK

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what the Imperial taxation per head is in Great Britain, France, Belgium and Germany?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I will refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the right hon. Member for the South Molton Division (Mr. Lambert) on the 11th June last. For Belgium, which did not appear in that answer, the taxation per head for the current year, according to the Budget as originally introduced, was estimated at 293.5 francs.

Mr. HANCOCK

What are we to understand by the current year? Is it the year ending on the 31st March?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

I really do not know when the Belgian current year ends, whether on the 31st March or the 31st December.

Mr. LAMBERT

Are these paper francs or gold francs?

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

They are Belgian francs.

Mr. LEACH

What would be the likely increase per head of French taxation if they paid their foreign debt?