§ Mr. Ralph Howellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have a higher starting rate of income tax, excluding local income tax, than 25 per cent.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonAustralia has a starting rate of 32 per cent. but information is not available for all countries.
§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in a full year, over and above the proposals announced in the Budget Statement, of extending the basic rate band to the first £8,000 of taxable income, and charging the next £2,000 at 40 per cent., 732W the next £3,000 at 50 per cent., the next £4,000 at 60 per cent., the next £6,000 at 70 per cent., and the remainder at 75 per cent.
§ Mr Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 25th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 534], gave the following information:
At 1978–79 income levels, and after taking account of the proposals in the Budget Statement, the estimated cost would be about £290 million, on the assumption that the basic rate band covered taxable income between £750 and £8,000.
§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which countries have a combined starting rate of income tax and social security contributions higher than 31½ per cent.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27th April 1978; Vol. 948, c. 675], gave the following answer:
The information is given in the table below but details are not available for all countries.
Combined starting rate of income tax and social security contributions per cent. Denmark 42.8 1 Norway 37.2 1 Australia 34.5 Germany 34.4 2 Netherlands 33.1 2 NOTES: 1. Includes local income tax. 2. The figures for Germany and Netherlands take account of the deductibility of social security contributions for income tax purposes in these countries. 3. Rates are those for 1978, except for Norway (1977).