§ 27 Mr. Hugh Lawsonasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies (1) what is the present rate of Income Tax in the Colony of Gibraltar; what it was in 1939; and what was the revenue from this source during the year 1939;
(2) what was the expenditure in the Colony of Gibraltar during the year 1939 on old age pensions, elementary education and other social services;
1338 (3) how any persons resident in the Colony of Gibraltar in the year 1939 had incomes of £25,000 a year or over.
§ The Secretary of State for the Colonies (Colonel Oliver Stanley)There is no Income Tax in Gibraltar and statistics regarding private incomes are not therefore available. Elementary education in Gibraltar was in 1939 almost entirely in the hands of Church schools, and Government expenditure took the form of grants-in-aid to these schools. It amounted in 1939 to £12,243. Expenditure on other social services amounted to £23,414. There is no system of old age pensions in Gibraltar. Proposals for postwar reconstruction in Gibraltar which include much extended education and medical facilities as well as provision for old age and disablement are now under consideration. In order to assist in financing these developments an Income Tax applicable to all except persons on low rate of income will be introduced in Gibraltar as soon as possible.