HC Deb 16 April 1957 vol 568 cc1734-5
28. Mr. Moss

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the gross national product has been taken by the Government in direct taxation in every year since 1951.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

The proportion of the gross national product taken in direct taxes fell from 16.4 per cent. in 1951 to 13.9 per cent. in 1956. With permission I will circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I expect some further reduction in 1957.

Following is the information:

Per cent.
1951 … … … … 16.4
1952 … … … … 16.6
1953 … … … … 15.2
1954 … … … … 14.5
1955 … … … … 14.8
1956 … … … … 13.9

These figures are derived from the Preliminary Estimates of National Income and Expenditure 1951 to 1956 (Cmnd. 123). Direct taxes are taken to be those described in this White Paper as taxes on net income and taxes on capital.