§ Mr Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total tax revenue in Great Britain for the year 1938–39; what percentage of the gross national product this was; and what are the comparable figures for the year 1970–71.
§ Mr. HigginsTotal tax revenue in 1938 was £1,086 million, representing 21 per cent. of gross national product. Figures of G.N.P. for the financial year 1938–39 are not available. For the year 1970 the corresponding figures are £16,555 million and 38.6 per cent. and for the financial year 1970–71, £16,633 million and 37.9 per cent. The figures for total tax revenue are taken as the sum of taxes on income, expenditure and capital as defined for national accounts purposes.68W They thus include local authority rates but exclude national insurance and health contributions.