§ Mr. Mackintoshasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the necessity for an accurate statement of the proportion of taxes paid by Scotland and the proportion of expenditure on Scottish services, he will produce an up-to-date statement of revenue and expenditure for England and Wales and Scotland on the lines of the return made in Command Paper No. 9051 in January 1954.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe return made in Command Paper No. 9051 in January 1954 of Revenue and Expenditure in England and Wales and Scotland in 1952–53 was necessarily based on broad assumptions about the attribution of certain items of revenue and expenditure. These assumptions were based on the report of the Catto Committee on Scottish Financial and Trade Statistics (Cmd. 8609). The preparation of an up-to-date return would involve a detailed review of much of the work of that Committee. I am considering whether any improvement can be made in the figures at present available.
§ Mr. MacArthurasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set up an inquiry into the Exchequer revenue and expenditure relationship between Scotland, and England and Wales; and what estimate he has made of the cost of such a study.
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§ Mr. DiamondOn the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh). The cost of such an inquiry would depend upon its scope.