§ Mr. Rhys Daviesasked the Minister of Fuel and Power if he has any information to show whether the high rates of Income Tax now imposed on wages have any effect on the production of coal per man-shift in this country; and whether Income Tax is levied at the same rate on the wages of those employed in and around coalmines in other countries where production per manshift is claimed to be higher than in Britain.
Major Lloyd GeorģeWhilst there is some evidence that total output is effected by Income Tax in increasing absenteeism there is no evidence to show that it affects the output per manshift except by the dislocation caused by non-attendance. As regards the second part, I regret that information as to the amount of Income Tax paid by mine workers abroad is not available in my Ministry.