§ 27. Mr. Wingfield Digbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made as to the effect of the Selective Employment Tax in Dorset.
§ Mr. MacDermotI regret that it is not practicable to estimate the effect of the tax in particular areas such as this.
57. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the cumulative effect upon the retail prices of food and fuel, taking into account the increases in costs upon retailers, in respect of wholesale, transport 46W and other services arising from the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. MacDermotIf all costs and all premiums were passed on, the average price increase for food and fuel combined would be in the region of one half of one per cent. The effect on actual prices at the present time is not known.
58. Mr. W. T. Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect to the latest available date on wages costs borne by the retail distributive trades of the Selective Employment Tax; and how much of these extra costs retailers have absorbed without increased cost to the consumer.
§ Mr. MacDermotApproximately 5 to 8 per cent. of labour costs. It is not known how much had been absorbed.
§ 69. Mr. Palmerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much, to the nearest million pounds, Selective Employment Tax collected exceeds premiums and refunds paid in the South-West region and the West Midlands region, respectively.
§ Mr. MacDermotIn a full year about £16 million and £7 million respectively.
§ 73. Sir T. Beamishasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is now in a position to revise his estimate of the net yield of the Selective Employment Tax in its first full year of operation.
§ Mr. CallaghanNo.