HC Deb 22 July 1991 vol 195 cc358-9W
Mr. David Shaw

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the changes in the rates of income tax for each year for which the information is readily available; and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Maude

The changes in the main rate of income tax since 1900 are shown in the table. The table does not show the various reduced rates of tax which applied nor any difference between the rate of tax on earned and unearned income.

Government Party Rate of tax
August 1931 to May 1940 National 1932–33 to 1933–34 5s 0d Standard rate, (25%)
1934–35 to 1935–36 4s 6d Standard rate, (22.5.)
1936–37 4s 9d Standard rate, (23.75.)
1937–38 5s 0d Standard rate, (25%)
1938–39 5s 6d Standard rate, (27.5%)
1939–40 7s 0d Standard rate, (35%)
1940–41 8s 6d Standard rate, (42.5%)
May 1940 to May 1945 Coalition 1941–42 to 1945–46 10s 0d Standard rate, (50%)
May 1945 to July 1945 Conservative
July 1945 to October 1951 Labour 1946–47 to 1950–51 9s 0d Standard rate, (45%)
1951–52 9s 6d Standard rate. (47.5%)
October 1951 to October 1964 Conservative 1952–53 9s 6d Standard rate, (47.5%)
1953–54 to 1954–55 9s 0d Standard rate. (45%)
1955–56 to 1958–59 8s 6d Standard rate, (42.5%)
1959–60 to 1964–65 7s 9d Standard rate, (38.75%)
October 1964 to June 1970 Labour 1965–66 to 1969–70 8s 3d Standard rate, (41.25%)
1970–71 41.25% Standard rate
June 1970 to March 1974 Conservative 1971–72 to 1972–73 38.75%, Standard rate
1973–74 30%, Basic rate
March 1974 to May 1979 Labour 1974–75 33%, Basic rate
1975–76 to 1976–77 35%, Basic rate
1977–78 34%, Basic rate
1978–79 33%, Basic rate
May 1979 to Conservative 1979–80 to 1985–86 30%, Basic rate
1986–87 29%, Basic rate
1987–88 27%, Basic rate
1988–89 to 25%, Basic rate