§ Sir J. HARMOOD-BANNERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can give any return of the number of weekly wage-earners who have paid, and the total amount received for, Income Tax collectable under Sub-section (3) of Section 28 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1915, and the proportion to the total number and amount of the Budget estimate?
§ Mr. McKENNAI promised my hon. Friend, in reply to his question of 26th June last, to obtain the number of weekly wage-earners who during the quarter con-2488W cluded 5th July, 1916, were in receipt of wages exceeding £2 10s. a week. The Commissioners of Inland Revenue have summarised the statistics available in the various tax districts throughout the country, and these indicate an approximate figure of 1,150,000 such wage-earners in receipt of some £48,000,000 for the quarter, or an average per head of £3 3s. a week. It is, of course, too early to state the amount of Income Tax which will be found to be due for the quarter or the number of wage-earners who will be liable. My hon. Friend will not forget that, in common with other tax payers, the weekly wage-earners are entitled to claim abatement, children's allowance, life insurance, etc.