HC Deb 26 February 1929 vol 225 cc1770-1
48. Mr. TINKER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of direct and indirect taxation up to the end of the financial year 1927–28?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The proportion of the yield of indirect taxes to total tax revenue in the year ended 31st March, 1928, was 35.27 per cent. Of this figure alcohol, tobacco and entertainments accounted for 28.63 per cent., silk, betting and McKenna Duties for 1.72 per cent. and sugar, tea, coffee, cocoa, etc., for 4.92 per cent. I will circulate the figures for earlier years in the OFFICIAL REPORT, but I may say that the taxation of necessaries such as sugar, tea, cocoa, etc., has fallen from 8.33 per cent. in 1924 to 4.92 per cent. in 1928.

Mr. TINKER

Can the right hon. Gentleman say whether the figures for indirect taxation have fallen or risen as compared with last year?

Mr. CHURCHILL

I am going to circulate a table for the information of the hon. Gentleman and of the House, which takes into consideration the whole six years and shows in the different groups the exact rise and fall, and the percentages.

Mr. TAYLOR

Does the right hon. Gentleman include in the table the figures for 1923?

Mr. CHURCHILL

The return which I am giving deals only with 1914 and with the last five years. That includes the year in which the friends of the hon. Member were in power.

Percentages of Total Tax Revenue raised by Indirect and Direct Taxation.
— Financial Year ended 31st March.
1914. 1924. 1925. 1926. 1927. 1928.
Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent. Per cent.
Alcohol, Tobacco and Entertainments (Old Sumptuary Duties). 35.00 27.85 28.10 28.56 29.06 28.63
Silk, Betting and McKenna Duties (New Sumptuary Duties). — .36 .01 .63 1.36 1.72
Sugar, Tea, Coffee, Cocoa, etc. 7.50 8.33 4.96 4.79 5.12 4.92
Total Indirect Taxes 42.50 36.54 33.07 33.98 35.54 35.27
Total Direct Taxes 57.50 63.46 66.93 66.02 64.46 64.73
100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00 100.00