HC Deb 30 March 1971 vol 814 cc326-7W
Mr. J.H. Osborn

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the national income; if he will give the breakdown of this expressed by value and as a percentage of the whole by categories including profits, distributed profits, ploughedback profits, interest, rent, earnings from the self-employed, wage earners and salaried has changed since 1st April, 1970, 1965, 1960, 1955, 1950, and 1945, respectively.

Mr. Higgins

Following is the reply:

Mr. J. H. Osbom

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the national wealth, not in public ownership, if he will tabulate the number of people, and percentage of the population, holding 10 per cent., 25 per cent., 50 per cent, and 75 per cent.;

The estimates of the wealth of individuals, a summary of which is published in Table 130 of Inland Revenue statistics, 1971, show the following:—

1960 1965 1969
Percentage of total recorded wealth held Number of persons '000 Percentage of population Number of persons'000 Percentage of population Number of persons'000 Percentage of population
10 15 0.03 38 0.1 37 0.1
25 140 0.3 200 0.4 220 0.4
50 807 1.6 1,140 2.1 1,410 2.6
75 3,250 6.4 3,800 7.2 6,400 11.8

The basis and limitations of these figures are described in the notes accompanying the table. The corresponding figures for 1970, 1955 and 1945 are not available.

Mr. J.H. Osborn

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, of the national wealth, not in public ownership, if he will tabulate the value and percentage held by 10 percent., 25 per cent., 50 per cent. and 75 per cent, of the population; and how this

The estimates mentioned in the previous question show that about one-third of the population held the total recorded wealth in 1960, 1965 and 1969. Information about the holdings of larger proportions than this are not therefore meaningful. The figures that can be given are as follows:—

Amounts £ thousand million
1960 1965 1969
Wealthiest slice of total population Amount Percentage of total Amount Percentage of total Amount Percentage of total
10% 43 83 60 81 72 79
25% 50 97 72 97 89 97

The corresponding figures for 1945, 1950, 1955 and 1970 are not available.