HC Deb 22 July 1976 vol 915 cc572-4W
Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons classified as self-employed made returns to the Inland Revenue in the most recent tax year for which records are available.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

At 6th April 1976 there were 1,980,000 self-employed persons making returns to the Inland Revenue.

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many self-employed persons declared a weekly income of less than £40, £40 to £60, £60 to £80, £80 to £100 and over £100, respectively.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The latest information available relates to incomes chargeable with income tax for the year 1973–74. The estimated numbers are:

Range of total income Per week No. of self-employed persons '000
Under 40 … … … 920
40–60 … … … 380

£ million
Gross Contribution Receipt Net Contribution
1973 … … … … 181.1 78.7 102.4
1974 … … … … 180.5 149.9 30.6
1975 … … … … 341.7 397.7 -56.0
1976 (first quarter) … … … … 92.5 67.9 24.6
Total … … … … 795.8 694.2 101.6

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received a request from the EEC for additional funds to meet increased Community expenditure in 1976; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Joel Barnett

A supplementary budget of 61 million units of account—£25 million approximately—to make provision for Community aid to victims of the Italian earthquake in May was adopted on 18th June. A further preliminary draft supplementary budget totalling 632 million units of account—£263 million approximately—was presented to the Council on 13th July to make additional provision for the financial requirements of the Guarantee Section of the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund, the Food Aid Programme and the interest rate subsidy on loans made to Portugal by the European Investment Bank.

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total value of imports from, and the total value of exports to member countries of the EEC since 1970; and what has been the net balance of payments effect of British-EEC trade for each of these years, both in money terms and as a percentage of

60–80 … … … 150
80–100 … … … 75
100 and over … … … 175

Total income is defined in Inland Revenue Statistics 1975 at p. 157.