§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will investigate the extent to which the ending of tax on earnings would reduce the overall tax take, after allowing for the increased production resulting from increased working, people currently receiving social security payments who would return to full-time work, the return of those now living abroad for tax reasons; and to what extent such a policy would reduce inflationary wage demands.
§ Mr. Peter ReesWhile I sympathise with the hon. Member's view that the level of taxation on earnings is too high, I do not think that an investigation of the consequences of the hon. Member's proposal would yield any reliable and precise information on the points raised by him.