13. Mr. Edward M. Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total tax revenue in the current financial year; and by what Percentage this exceeds the actual tax revenue in 1963–64.
§ Mr. DiamondI have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 20th May, 1969.—[Vol. 784, c. 222-3.]
Mr. TaylorWhy will not the Minister state the figures? Would he agree that tax revenue has more than doubled in six 815 years, and this despite the Prime Minister's pledge that the Government could carry out their programme without any general increase in taxation? Is he aware that successive tax increases are putting more and more people into the position of being as well off not working as working?
§ Mr. TaverneIn the answer I gave the hon. Gentleman I actually gave the figures precisely and clearly; I gave them gross and I gave them by way of sensible comparison, and made it clear that if we make appropriate allowances so as to compare like with like and take into account increases in incomes the increase in taxation works out at about 4 per cent. per annum on average.