§ CAPTAIN BETHELL (York, E. R., Holderness)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that English farmers are still assessed for Schedule B at one-half of the full annual value of their holdings; whether, as he promised during the discussions on the Finance Bill that English farmers should be placed on the same footing as Irish and Scotch farmers, he will take steps to completely carry out this promise this year; and whether he is aware that, even by the complicated process offered to English farmers for getting abatements off Schedule B, it is not possible in all cases to get the advantages which are obtained by Scotch or Irish farmers who are assessed on one-third of the full annual value of their holdings?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (SIR W. HARCOURT, Derby)The Amendment introduced in Committee on the Finance Bill last year, which equalised the rate of Schedule B in three countries, did not deal with certain, subsidiary points. As the Law at present stands, England is in a better position than Scotland and Ireland in some respects, while in others, like that referred to in the question, Scotland and Ireland have the advantage. It will probably be necessary to make Legislative provision for removing these anomalies on either side.
§ CAPTAIN BETHELLThis year?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThis subject is under consideration; it is rather a complicated matter.