§ Mr. David Mitchellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an employee of a nationalised industry or person otherwise engaged in public service employment is chargeable to tax as a benefit on the provision by the employer of season railway ticket or its equivalent when the employee is earning less than £5,000 a year and also when the employee is earning more than £5,000 a year.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonWhere an employer provides an employee earning £5,000 or more a year with a season ticket, the employee is chargeable to income tax by reference to the amount
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Rate(s) in force on 1st May Tax 1974 1977 inland Revenue* Income Tax 33–83% 35–83%† —investment income surcharge 10–15% 10–15% Corporation Tax‡ 42–52% 42–52% —cooperative societies and building societies 40% 40% Capital Gains Tax 16½–30% 17½–30%‡ Development Gains Charge 33–83% — Estate Duty 0–75% — Capital Transfer Tax 0–75%§ 0–75% Petroleum Revenue Tax — 45% Development Land Tax — 66⅔80% Stamp Duty 0–2% 0–2% Customs and Excise Value Added Tax: Standard rate 10% 8% Higher rate — 12½% Car Tax (of wholesale value) 10% 10% Duties on Alcoholic Drink: Whisky (per bottle: ⅙ gallon 70. proof) £1.9845 £3.1605 Beer (per pint of average strength) 4p 7.5p Wine (per bottle of ⅙ gallon): (a) EEC table wine (not exceeding 15 per cent.) 24p 55p (b) Spanish sherry (18–20 per cent.) 40p 79.5p British Wine (per bottle of ⅙ gallon): (a) Light (not exceeding 15 per cent.) 22p — (b) Heavy (15–18 per cent.) 26p — Made-Wine (per bottle of ⅙ gallon): (a) Light (not exceeding 15 per cent.) — 53p (b) Heavy (15–18 percent.) — 57.9p Cider and Perry (per pint) — 3p Hydrocarbon Oil Duties (per gallon): (a) Road fuel 22.5p 35p (b) Rebatable oil lp 2.5p|| Tobacco Duties: Variable according to product, e.g. 20 standard tipped cigarettes 19–5p 35.5p Betting and Gaming Duties: (a) Pool Betting Duty (percentage of stake) 40 % 40 % (b)General Betting Duty (percentage of stake) 4% on course 4% on course 7½ % off course 7½ % off course (c) Gaming machine licence duty (per machine) £12. 50–£300 £7 . 50–£200 (d) Bingo Duty (percentage of stake) 2½% 5% Matches (per 7,200) 49p 49p Mechanical Lighters (each) 20p 20p Protective Duties¶ Various Various EEC Agricultural Levies¶ Various Various which it has cost the employer to provide it. Where he earns less than £5,000 a year, there is no charge to tax. This applies whatever the nature of the employment.