§ Mr. Brockwayasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what indirect taxa
KENYA UGANDA TANGANYIKA — 1955–56 Revised Estimates, 1956–57 1955–56 Revised Estimates, 1956–57 1955–56 Revised Estimates, 1956–57 £ £ £ £ £ £ Customs Duties … 9,378,674 7,700,000 4,379,138 3,755,000 5,527,430 5,100,000 Excise Duties … 2,805,112 3,000,000 1,770,693 1,970,000 1,603,516 1,850,000 Consumption Tax … 65,183 80,000 — — 90,405 120,000 Export Duties … 1,689,239 120,000 5,225,993 5,994,000 28,130 35,000 Petrol Tax … 512,393 486,000 — — — — Stamp Duties … 592,898 590,000 169,478 175,000 166,174 160,000 Total — 15,052,499 11.967,000 11,545,302 11,894,000 7,415,655 7,265,000 Minimum Wages
In Kenya the basic minimum wage has been changed in some urban areas and is now as follows:
BASIC MINIMUM WAGES PER MONTH Area Male employees aged 21 years and over Other employees Sh. cts. Sh. cts. Eldoret Municipality 82 50 72 50 Kisumu Municipality 82 50 72 50 Kitale Municipality 82 50 72 50 Mombasa Island 79 50 70 00 Nairobi Municipality 85 00 75 00 Nakuru Municipality 83 50 73 50 Nanyuki Township 83 00 73 00 Nyeri Township 82 50 72 50 Thika Urban District 82 50 72 50 The rates of housing allowance have not been changed. In Tanganyika, wage regulation in the Municipality of Dar es
22Wtion is levied in Uganda, Kenya and Tanganyika; what are the minimum wages for African labourers in each of these territories; and what is the estimated average annual cost of direct and indirect taxation to African labourers in each territory.
§ Mr. Lennox-Boyd,pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 6th February, 1957; Vol. 564, c. 58–59], supplied the following further information:
Revenue raised from Indirect Taxes
The revenue raised from indirect taxes in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika during the East African financial year 1955–56 and the revised estimates for 1956–57 are as follows:
Salaam came into force on the 1st April, 1957. The statutory minimum wage ranges from -/16 cents per hour in the case of girls of 15 years of age up to -/42 cents per hour for men of 18 years of age and over. These rates include a weighting for housing.
In Uganda a statutory minimum wage of Shs. 33/- per month, which includes weighting for housing and rations, has been in force in the Municipalities of Kampala and Jinja since 1949. Actual wages have however approximately doubled in this period and the lowest wages in these municipalities are now well above the legal minimum.
Cost of Taxation to African labourers
It is impossible to make more than a very rough estimate of the average annual cost of direct and indirect taxation to African labourers in the three territories. Direct taxation varies according to district and, in some cases, according to 23W income. It is even more difficult to estimate the amount of indirect taxation paid by any particular class of taxpayer, at least without detailed surveys of individual budgets which are not available. The amount paid is of course related closely to cash income which varies considerably between different categories of African labourers, especially between those working in urban and rural areas. But, making allowances for all these factors, it is estimated that the average African urban labourer would pay in taxation somewhat over £3 per annum in Kenya and Uganda and about £2 10s. in Tanganyika. Direct taxation alone on African labourers varies in Kenya between Shs. 19/- and Shs. 25/- per annum and in Tanganyika between Shs. 16/- and Shs. 33/- per annum, while in Uganda the average labourer in Kampala would pay about Shs. 40/- in direct taxation.