§ MR. A. F. JEFFREYSI beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, what, is the amount of the Land Tax now collected in England and Wales; who are the collectors of this tax; and how are they paid?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTThe amount of land tax now collected in England and Wales is about £1,000,000: the collectors are local officers appointed by the local Commissioners of Land Tax. Their remuneration is fixed by the Act 55 and 56 Vic. cap. 25, and 54 and 55 Vic., cap 13.
§ MR. R. W. HANBURY (Preston)asked if the right hon. Gentleman was aware that in a great number of country parishes it was the rule for the collector's, with the assent of the Land Tax Commissioners, to raise, not only the proper amount of the tax, but about 10 per cent, besides, and receive that 10 per cent, as payment for collection?
§ SIR W. HARCOURTsaid, the matter had been regulated for the last two or three years by Act of Parliament, and he was not aware of any such arrangement as the hon. Gentleman mentioned.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTsaid that formerly the payment was by poundage, but a new system had been established.
§ MR. HANBURYasked if there was any authority for a collector collecting more than the fixed quota of land tax.
§ SIR W. HARCOURTsaid he should say that no one was entitled to collect more than the proper amount.