§ Mr. Knoxasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update, in the light of his proposed Budget changes, the figures given in the Written Answer to a Question from the honourable Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe), Official Report, 28th February, columns 187–8, concerning the percentage of total tax revenue of direct and indirect taxes.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonFollowing my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals, direct taxes were expected to account for 49.8 per cent. of total tax revenue in 1978–79 and indirect taxes for 50.2 per cent. using the same definitions as in that answer.
On the basis of the income tax amendments to the Finance Bill and the proposed increase in the national insurance surcharge the figures become 48.8 per cent. and 51.2 per cent. respectively.