§ Mr. J. CALDWELL (Lanark, Mid)I beg to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the Imperial Treasury of the operation of Clause 31 of the Finance Bill reducing the Land Tax to one shilling in the pound; how much of that loss will arise in England and Scotland respectively; whether, following the precedent of the Scotch Agricultural Rating Bill, abolishing the Burgh Land Tax out of money allocated to Scotland, he will meet any loss to the Imperial Treasury, in the case of Scotland out of Scotch money or a tax levied in Scotland, and in the case of England out of English money or a tax levied in England; and, whether, if the loss is to be borne by the Imperial Treasury, he will arrange for Scotland and Ireland receiving their proper equivalent grant?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Sir MICHAEL HICKS BEACH,) Bristol, W.The loss is estimated at from £90,000 to £100,000, but no very accurate estimate can be given. It will arise almost entirely in England, and mainly in the south and east of England. I am not prepared to admit that where the remission of any tax affects one portion of the United Kingdom more than another the portions less affected are to be compensated.