HC Deb 29 April 1935 vol 301 cc30-1
51. Mr. H. WILLIAMS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is prepared to consider publishing a return showing on a comparative basis the total expenditure falling on rates and taxes, including the estimated expenditure for the present financial year and for each year since the establishment of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, eliminating from such return the interest payments on war debt to the United States of America, but including as expenditure chargeable against revenue the sums raised in certain years by way of loan for the Road Fund, the Unemployment Insurance Fund, and with all other such adjustments as may be necessary, in order to show clearly the fluctuations in the burdens falling year by year on the taxpayer and ratepayer?

Mr. COOPER

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which was given to the hon. Member for South-West St. Pancras (Mr. Mitcheson) on the 14th June last. I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement bringing up to date the figures which were supplied in response to his request on the 9th July, and showing separately the interest payments in each year on the war debt to the United States of America.

Following is the statement:

Year. National Expenditure. Rates collected by local authorities (c).
Expenditure charged to revenue (a.) Interest payments on U.S.A. war debt included in col. 2. Borrowing by Unemployment Fund. Expenditure out of the Road Fund. Total of columns (2) (3) and (4).
(1) (2) (2A) (3) (4) (5) (6)
£000. £000. £000. £000. £000. £000.
1924–25 … 727,287 31,214 — 15,483 742,770 160,049
1925–26 … 751,443 28,315 80 16,988 768,511 167,201
1926–27 … 758,185 27,948 17,400 24,789 800,374 179,500
1927–28 … 752,485 27,708 — 31,813 784,298 188,394
1928–29 … 741,580 27,616 11,430 17,728 770,738 188,409
1929–30 … 749,639 27,450 2,990 20,569 773,198 175,747
1930–31 … 796,006 27,284 36,440 27,926 860,372 168,184
1931–32 … 771,974 13,555 39,610 29,941 841,525 165,190
1932–33 … 777,387 19,865 — 24,395 801,782 163,647(d)
1933–34 … 692,801 3,304 — 21,014 713,815 166,153(b)
1934–35 … 708,879 — — 21,150(b) 730,029 171,874(b)
1935–36 … 733,970 (b) — — 26,230 (e) 760,200 (f)
NOTES:
(a) The figures for years prior to 1928–29 have been adjusted to conform to certain changes made in that year in the form of the accounts.
(b) Estimates.
(c) Since a large portion of local authorities' expenditure is met out of exchequer grants, which are already included in column (2), and out of rents, etc., figures of rates collected afford the simplest approximate index to the actual burden of local expenditure. Over a series of years the rates collected represent very closely the expenditure falling on rates.
(d) Subject to final revision as regards Scottish authorities.
(e) Total of self-balancing revenue and expenditure (H.C. 72 of 1934–35). The programme of actual expenditure from the Fund in the current year is not yet finally settled.
(f) Not available.