§ Mr. MacGregorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the percentage increase in wages and salaries, in prices and in dividends from 1st March
Wages and salaries* General index of retail prices (all items) United Kingdom company dividends (gross of tax)†‡ Percentage increases— 1966quarter 1–1977quarter3 265 210 23 1974quarter 1–1977quarter3 81 82 32 * Excludes Forces' pay. † Excludes payments of dividends to other companies. ‡ Dividend payments were high in quarter 1 1966 because companies had brought forward payments in order to avoid payment of income tax under Schedule F, to which they would have been liable on dividends paid after 5th April 1966. Between the first half of 1966 and the third quarter of 1977 the quarterly rate of dividend payments rose by 73 per cent.