GOVERNMENT RECORD ON TAXATION

Early day motion 1789, tabled 21 October 2003 by Colin Challen (Labour). Signed by 16 members.

That this House notes that according to House of Commons Library Research Paper 03/74, The Burden of Taxation, the level of taxation in the first six years of the Government elected in 1979 rose by nearly 5 per cent. of GDP, whilst the record of the Government elected in 1997 shows that in its first six years taxation never reached the high levels of the former Government but by 2002 was 35.9 per cent. of GDP, only 0.3 per cent. higher than the level it had inherited; further notes that these figures indicate that any comparison of these two periods shows that Labour's management of the economy has brought stability to people's lives, whereas the period commencing in 1979 was one of economic strife, upheaval, high unemployment, poverty, mortgage arrears and failures, fear and industrial collapse; and therefore congratulates the Government on its record, which has managed record levels of investment in public services, and urges it to spare no effort in promoting the value of public investment.

Signatures by party: Labour 15, Labour/Co-operative 1.