§ SIR JOSEPH M'KENNA (Monaghan, S.)asked the Secretary to the Treasury, Whether the amount returned as assessed to Income Tax in the Statistical Abstract under Schedule (B) for the year 1884 (Ireland) £9,982,117 is not erroneous; or at any rate arrived at on a different principle from that applied in making up the sums in same Schedule and in same Abstract, for England and Scotland, which are returned at £48,025,698, and £7,506,365 respectively; whether in fact the annual value assessable under Schedule (B) for Scotland is not greatly in excess of the amount assessable in Ireland under a like Schedule; and, whether, if the facts are as implied in the above questions, 361 corrections shall be made to adjust the figures in future Abstracts?
§ THE SECRETARY TO THE TREASURY (Mr. HENRY H. FOWLER) (Wolverhampton, E.)The amounts printed on page 25 of the Statistical Abstract under Schedule B are the gross values of lands under Schedule A of the tax, a note at the foot of the page explaining that the profits from the occupation of lands (i.e., the amount which is charged to Income Tax under Schedule B) are by law deemed to be equal in England to one-half, and in Scotland and Ireland to one-third, of the full annual value of the lands. No distinction in principle has been followed in ascertaining assessments in England as contrasted with Scotland and Ireland. In England the gross value of lands in 1883–4 was £48,025,698; deductions for incomes under £150, abatements, &c, £20,881,469, leaving net amount for assessment £27,144,229, which was charged to duty at 2½d. in the pound by Act 46 Vict., c. 10, less one-eighth previously allowed by 5 & 6 Vict., c. 35, s. 63. In Scotland the gross value of lands was £7,506,365; deductions, abatements, &c, £3,882,378; net assessment, £3,623,987, which was charged to duty at 1¾d. in the pound by the 46th Vict. c. 10. In Ireland the gross value of lauds was £9,982,117; deductions, abatements, &c, £7,290,284; net assessments, £2,691,833, upon which duty was charged at the same rate as in Scotland.