§ Mr. Costainasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will initiate studies so that he can be satisfied that the present balance of direct and indirect taxation produces the most advantageous result for the economy, in view of the present trend in the Common Market countries towards indirect rather than direct taxation.
§ Mr. CallaghanThe balance of direct and indirect taxation is one of the factors which I already take into account in reviewing the tax system. The percentage of taxation, taking taxes of all kinds into account, which is collected through indirect taxes, is as high in the United Kingdom as in any of the Common Market Countries.