§ Mr. Lawsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide the latest available figures for personal taxation as
PERSONAL TAXATION IN 1976 Including social security contributions Excluding social security contributions As a percentage of: As a percentage of: Total taxation* GDP at factor cost Total taxation† GDP at factor cost United Kingdom … 47.1 19.0 48.8 15.9 United States of America … 44.6 14.7 44.6 11.1 Japan … — — 32.7 5.6 Canada … 39.3 14.1 39.4 12.5 West Germany … 45.5 19.9 44.4 12.5 France … 26.6 11.6 25.1 6.4 Italy … 26.5 9.5 34.8 7.2 * General Government taxes on income, taxes on expenditure and all social security contributions. † General Government taxes on income and taxes on expenditure. Source: United Kingdom—National Income and Expenditure 1967–77, adusted to international definitions. Other countries—National Accounts of OECD Countries 1976 Volume II. Data on taxes on capital in 1976 are not yet available from international sources. Since there are various factors affecting comparisons of this nature—differences between countries in economic and financial structures, taxation methods, and the importance of unincorporated businesses—the results should be regarded as giving only a broad indication of the relative importance of personal taxation in different countries.