§ 55. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the controversy regarding the comparative severity of tax burdens resting on British and French citizens, he will consider the usefulness of having an authoritative statement prepared which will show the total and the subheads of British and French taxation, per capita, compared both at the pre-War and the present rates of exchange?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)To be convincing such a statement would require to take into consideration payments to local as well as national authorities, the local purchasing power of money, the standard and habits of living, the character of the national expenditure, the weight of indirect taxation and its effects on prices, together with various other important aspects. I cannot undertake such a lengthy and laborious task. I think, however, that there is no doubt that the British tax burden is the heavier.