§ MR. SCHREIBERasked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, with respect to the sum of £46,530,000 included in the Estimate of Revenue for the current financial year, under the joint heads of "Customs" and "Excise," Whether he is in a position to furnish to the House any reliable estimate of the proportions in which that sum is now contributed by the classes who live on weekly wages, and by those who pay direct taxation?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. CHILDERS)Sir, I am afraid I can only refer the hon. Member to the various attempts which have been made by statisticians at different times—notably by the late Mr. Dudley Baxter—to solve this very difficult problem. The absolute solution of it has never been found practicable, and I do not think that an official cachet could properly be given to what at the best would only be an elaborate conjecture.