§ MR. W. H. SMITH (for Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE)asked the Financial Secre- 1565 tary to the Treasury for some explanation of the two following items in the comparative statement of the Estimate of Revenue for 1882–3, and of the Receipts in 1881–2:—Estimate for 1882–3, Stamps (exclusive of Fee, &c. Stamps), £11,145,000; Exchequer Receipt in 1881–2, £11,385,000. Estimate for 1882–3, Miscellaneous (inclusive of Fee, &c. Stamps), £4,235,000; Exchequer Receipt in 1881–2, £5,011,020?
§ LORD FREDERICK CAVENDISHSir, two changes have been made this year in the method of stating the Revenue. First, receipts realized by the Army and Navy Departments, which before this year were paid into the Exchequer, will this year be applied, as shown in the Estimates, under fixed regulation, in diminution of the Votes of those Departments. This measure, of course, diminishes the amount of Miscellaneous Receipts to be paid into the Exchequer. Secondly, the Chancellor of the Exchequer presents the Revenue in two parts—1, produce of taxes; 2, receipts, not taxes, properly so-called. Fees levied in Courts of Law and other Departments form part of the receipts of the year. Formerly these fees were received in cash; but, for sake of convenience, they are now, for the most part, collected by means of stamps. The Treasury does not consider these fees as taxes in the ordinary sense of the word, and proposes, therefore, to bring them to account henceforth as Miscellaneous Revenue, so that the Account, laid before Parliament, may show distinctly the two kinds of Revenue. The first measure diminishes the amount of Miscellaneous Receipts to be paid into the Exchequer. The second increases that head of Revenue, diminishing the Stamp Revenue by a corresponding amount.