HC Deb 29 November 1983 vol 49 cc455-6W
Mr. Colvin

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing tax as a percentage of national output in 1978–79 and 1983–84 in the United Kingdom; and if he has any information on the comparable figures for France, Germany, Japan and the United States of America.

Mr. Moore

Total taxation, including national insurance contributions and local authority rates, IA as 34.1 per cent. of United Kingdom GDP at market prices in 1978–79 and is estimated to be 38.7 per cent. in 1983–84. Broadly comparable figures for the other countries are as follows for 1978 and the latest year available.

1978 *1982
France 39.5 43.7
West Germany 37.7 37.0
Japan 24.2 † 26.9
United States 30.2 †31.2
* Provisional
† 1981