§ Mr. Geoffrey Robinsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much taxation increased as a percentage of gross domestic product between 1978 and 1982 and between 1978 and the latest available date; and by how much the number of taxpayers has fallen over the same periods.
§ Mr. MooreTotal taxation (excluding national insurance contribution) as a percentage of gross domestic product at market prices increased by 4 per cent. between 1978–79 and 1982–83 and by 3.2 per cent. between 1978–79 and the first three quarters of 1983–84. Between the same periods income tax paid by persons decreased by 0.3 per cent. and 0.8 per cent. respectively.
The number of taxpayers is provisionally estimated to have fallen by 1.3 million between 1978–79 and 1982–83.