§ 17. Sir C. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that Surtax was fixed at £2,000 per annum in 1919, and the value of the £ sterling has fallen to 7s. 2d. in the intervening years, if he will increase the Surtax starting point to nearer £6,000 per annum, in accordance with the changes in the value of money.
§ Mr. TaverneI must ask the lion. Member to await my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.
§ Sir C. OsborneDoes not the Minister agree that there is some social justice in the suggestion?
§ Mr. TaverneThe social justice of it will no doubt be considered later. I can tell the hon. Member that since 1919 the cost of living has risen by under three times and the earned income level on which Surtax starts being paid has been raised by two and a half times.