HC Deb 08 February 1955 vol 536 cc192-3W
76. Mr. Woodburn

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total increase, after deduction of tax, has taken place in company dividends between 1951 and 1954.

Mr. R. A. Butler

It is provisionally estimated that total payments of dividends and interest by companies and public corporations increased by about £150 million between 1951 and 1954. This is a net figure after deduction of Income Tax at the standard rate. Information is not available to enable an adjustment to be made for cases where the recipient of the dividend is not liable to tax at the standard rate or is liable to Surtax as well as Income Tax. Comparable figures for dividends paid by companies alone are not available because of changes in the company sector due to nationalisations.