§ 64. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons in the United Kingdom have incomes over and under £1,500 net per annum as shown by the latest figures available; and, if all income over £1,500 per annum were distributed to those receiving less, how much per week it would add to the incomes of those receiving less.
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§ Mr. MaudlingIn 1951–52, the latest year for which figures are available, the number of personal incomes over £1,500 net after deduction of tax was about 214,000 and the number of net incomes below that amount was about 25.3 million. If the whole of the excess over £1,500 had been distributed to those with net incomes below that amount each of the latter would have received about two shillings per week.
§ 65. Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the income required today to equal the purchasing power of £2,000 per annum when Surtax was first introduced at this level in 1918–19.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterI have no materials available for a precise estimate. The figure would not, however, be likely to be less than £3,400.