§ 41. Mr. LEONARDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state, up to the latest date available, the amount of taxation per head of the population in respect of each of the following services: Army, Navy, Air Force, education, public health, war pensions, old age pensions, widows' pensions, National Debt interest and Civil Service administration?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINAs the reply involves a number of figures I will, with the Hon. Member's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.
§ Following is the reply:
| Cost* per Head of Population, 1932–3. | |||
| United Kingdom†: | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Army | 16 | 2 | |
| Navy | 1 | 2 | 2 |
| Air Force | 7 | 8 | |
| War Pensions | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| National Debt Interest | 6 | 3 | 3‡ |
| Great Britain: | |||
| £ | s. | d. | |
| Education | 1 | 2 | 7 |
| Public Health | 2 | 11 | |
| Old Age Pensions | 17 | 9 | |
| Widows' Pensions, etc. | 4 | 11 | |
| Civil Service Administration | 3 | 9§ | |
| * It is impossible to distinguish what part of any particular service is paid for from taxes and what part from non-tax revenue. Accordingly the figures given show total cost per head to the National Taxpayer (Local rates are not included). | |||
| † In the case of those items which are "Imperial liabilities and expenditure" within the meaning of the Sixth Schedule to the Government of Ireland Act, 1920, the cost is calculated per head of the population of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. | |||
| ‡ The cost of National Debt Interest (including management) is based on the Budget estimate. The conversion of the War Loans and certain bonds will reduce it in the coming year and future years by about 17s. | |||
| § The cost of Civil Service Administration includes a number of miscellaneous items (see Financial Statement, 1932–3, page 9). It excludes the Revenue Departments (page 7). |