§ Mr. Osborneasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the estimated amount currently paid by private industry in taxation; which social services cost a similar amount; and how much would the tax on 20 cigarettes and a pint of beer have to be increased, respectively, to produce the same amount.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftThe total amount of United Kingdom tax payable in respect of the 1956 profits of companies, including tax on their distributions to shareholders, is estimated at about £1,400 million. This amount of tax is approximately equal to central Government current expenditure in 1956 on education, health, national insurance, national assistance, war service and non-contributory pensions, family allowances and milk and welfare foods.
As regards the last part of the Question, I cannot make estimates of the effect on the Revenue of such hypothetical increases in duty.