40. Mr. Ivor Thomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in future editions of the White Paper entitled, National Income and Expenditure of the United Kingdom, and similar publications, he will show the figures of rent, interest and profits, salaries, wages and pay and allowances after deduction 976 of tax; and whether he will show corporation profits separately from other profits.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Glenvil Hall)The figures mentioned in the first part of the Question can be derived from the White Paper in its present form. The answer to the second part is "Yes."
Mr. ThomasAs the figures given in their present form are constantly misused for propaganda purposes—for example, by the hon. Member for West Fife (Mr. Gallacher) in his recent publication—could not the right hon. Gentleman see that the figures after taxation are given in more prominent form?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe hon. Member should have discovered that fact before he crossed the Floor of the House.
§ Mr. GallacherIs the Minister aware that the hon. Member for West Fife never makes any unreliable statements, and that the statements referred to by the hon. Member for Keighley (Mr. Ivor Thomas) will bear investigation?
§ Lieut.-Commander Gurney BraithwaiteDoes the right hon. Gentleman's reply mean that the discovery of the truth entails crossing the Floor?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallOn the contrary, it appeared to me that the hon. Member had only just made the discovery.