§ Mr. John Hallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue from direct and indirect taxes as a percentage of the gross national product in the years 1959, 1960 and 1961 for the United Kingdom; and what corresponding information he has received through the Organisation for European Co-operation and Development, regarding the United States of America, Western Germany, France, Belgium, Holland and Italy.
§ Mr. BarberThe table below shows total revenue direct and indirect taxes 137W as a percentage of the gross national product at factor cost for the calendar years 1959, 1960 and 1961 for the United Kingdom and for 1959 and 1960 for the other countries mentioned. 1961 figures for these countries are not yet available on a comparable basis. The figures include both central Government and local taxes since the distinction between central and local taxation varies from one country to another. Death duties are not treated as direct taxes in the tables from which the figures for other countries have been drawn and have therefore been omitted from the United Kingdom figures. The extent to which social security benefits are financed from specific contributions or from general taxation varies greatly from one country to another and the table therefore shows in addition the figures including social security contributions.
— Taxes Taxes plus social security contributions Per cent. Per cent. Belgium— 1959 18.5 25.8 1960 18.8 26.5 France— 1959 28.4 39.8 1960 28.1 39.5 West Germany— 1959 27.6 38.9 1960 28.1 39.4 Italy— 1959 n.a. 31.9 1960 n.a. 32.6 Netherlands— 1959 23.6 32.1 1960 24.4 33.0 United States— 1959 25.4 29.3 1960 25.8 30.3 United Kingdom— 1959 28.2 32.4 1960 27.4 31.5 1961 28.3 32.8