§ 21. Mr. Ashtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional tax revenue he expects to receive due to the current financial year having 366 days.
§ Mr. HigginsThe extra day is not expected to have any measureable net influence; revenue will be increased, but so, too, will expenditure.
§ Mr. AshtonIs it not a fact that people who work 28 days in February get the same pay as those who work 29 days in February, especially if they are paid monthly? What is happening to this extra's day's production? Are the bosses getting it? If as the Minister of State says, the Treasury is not getting it, where is that extra day's work going in that 29-day period?
§ Mr. HigginsIt will depend to some extent on the day of the week on which the extra day falls. It is not possible to give a quantitative estimate of the point which the hon. Gentleman has made.
§ Mr. TebbitDoes my hon. Friend know of anyone who will work either 28 or 29 days in the month of February?
§ Mr. HigginsThat is a point to which I must give further thought.