§ Mr. Malcolm BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his present estimate of the tax burden as a per cent. of GDP, using total taxes and social security contributions on a national accounts accruals basis, for each year from 1996–97 to 2001–02; what is his estimate of the additional annual taxation in cash terms which is projected to be raised by the Exchequer in 2001–02 as a result of the increase in the tax burden over this period; and if he will make a statement. [19757]
§ Dawn Primarolo[holding answer 10 December 1997]: Projections of the tax burden, assuming unchanged tax policies, were presented in Table B6 of the Pre-Budget Report. The projected increase in the ratio of taxes and social security contributions to GDP from 1996–97 to 2001–02 is equivalent to a total increase in tax receipts of £23 billion at current prices in 2001–02, compared with 1996–97. This is equivalent to an average annual increase of £4½billion.
The primary aim of the Government's tax policy is to raise sufficient revenue for Government to pay for the services which its policies require, and to service its debt, while keeping the overall burden of tax as low as possible.
§ Mr. RooneyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of(a) income tax, (b) capital gains tax, (c) corporation tax, (d) inheritance tax and (e) VAT paid for each of the last 10 fiscal years expressed (i) in cash terms, (ii) at September 1997 prices and (iii) as a percentage of general Government receipts. [22160]
§ Mr. Geoffrey RobinsonFigures in cash terms up to 1995–96 were published in Table 10.25 of Public Finance Trends 1996. Figures for 1996–97 were published in Table S24 of Financial Statistics (October 1997 Edition). Figures for the GDP deflator were published in Table 1.1 of478W Economic Trends Annual Supplement 1996–97. Forecasts of the GDP deflator were published in Table A3 of the November 1997 Pre-Budget Report.