§ 22. Mr. Brockwayasked the Minister of Labour if he will publish in the Gazette a monthly return of profits, dividends and capital and land-selling gains to supplement the monthly return of earned incomes.
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Labour (Mr. William Whitelaw)No, sir. My right hon. Friend understands that there are no official monthly statistics of profits, dividends and capital and land-selling gains. Such figures as are available are already to be found in various Government publications such as the Monthly Digest of Statistics, and the Ministry of Labour's Quarterly Bulletin of Statistics on Incomes, Prices, Employment and Production.
§ Mr. BrockwayBut, if there are no statistics, is it not the duty of the hon. Gentleman's Department to get them? How can he possibly prepare a national incomes policy unless he knows the proportion of the income which goes in unearned incomes and the proportion which goes in exorbitant capital gains, particularly in the increase for land value charges? Will the hon. Gentleman do something about it if he is to get the proper balance in this question?
§ Mr. WhitelawI think the hon. Gentleman will be the first to appreciate that there is a wide variety of statistics on which those who are considering a national incomes policy can draw. I think that the hon. Gentleman's suggestion goes somewhat wider than the responsibility of the Minister of Labour.