§ Mr. Rookerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has as to how the total tax taken as a proportion of gross domestic product in the United Kingdom compares with that of (a) European Economic Community states and (b) Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development countries, showing in each case the latest available year and 1978.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 19 December 1983]: The figures are as follows for all the countries for which the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development gives details. They relate to total taxation and social security contributions as a proportion of gross domestic product at market prices. In most cases the latest 152W available year is 1982, but for those countries indicated in the table, for which 1982 data are not yet available, figures for 1981 are shown.
1978 1982 EEC countries Belgium 45.1 45.5 Denmark 43.4 44.5 France 39.5 43.7 Germany 37.7 37.0 Greece 27.9 31.7 Ireland 33.1 40.5 Italy 31.3 *33.7 Luxembourg 39.5 33.3 Netherlands 44.6 45.4 United Kingdom 33.7 40.0 Other OECD countries Australia 28.6 *31.6 Austria 41.5 41.0 Canada 31.5 35.9 Finland 36.4 36.8 Japan 24.2 *26.9 New Zealand 30.8 34.0 Norway 46.5 47.8 Portugal 26.5 31.1 Spain 22.9 23.8 Sweden 51.2 50.3 Switzerland 31.6 31.0 Turkey 21.3 *19.3 United States 30.2 *31.2 *Indicates a 1981 figure. Source: OECD Revenue Statistics 1965–82.