MR. BANKS STANHOPEsaid, he would beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, What information exists as to the amount of the aggregate income of the working men of this country, and on what basis that amount has been calculated?
THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUERSir, I am not aware of anything in the nature of information, or that can properly be called information, on the subject of the aggregate income of the working classes of this country. It is a matter which at various times has been made the subject of very interesting inquiries by statisticians, and there are certain materials upon which such inquiries may be based, particularly the enumeration in the Census of the different classes of labourers, and upon the knowledge of the numbers belonging to those different classes, and upon the knowledge of the wages usually received by them, computations may be made, but they are mere computations and ought not to be considered as in the nature of information. I never propounded, and I never should propound, anything of the sort as information. I have recently given an opinion upon it, and for financial purposes I have looked into the circumstances on former occasions, and I have given an opinion—I do not call it more than an opinion—upon a recent occasion, which I am bound to say I believe to be a very moderate conjecture, which I will maintain against all opponents—but I cannot claim for it any higher rank than that of an opinion.