§ MR. SAMUEL EVANS (Glamorganshire, Mid.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is necessary or expedient to have a public inquiry before the income-tax can be graduated and differentiated; and, if so, whether he will appoint a Committee to inquire into the subject upon an early date.
§ MR. MCKENNA (for Mr. ASQUITH)The practical difficulties in the way of graduating or differentiating the income-tax are very considerable, and I am certainly of opinion that some sort of inquiry—probably by a Select Committee, but I am not prepared to commit myself as to this at the present moment—should take place before any definite scheme is formulated. I will make a further statement at an early date.
§ MR. CROOKSWhat about the Committee appointed by Mr. Ritchie?
§ MR. MCKENNAThat Committee reported long ago.
§ MR. CROOKSWhat was the result.
§ MR. SAMUEL EVANSOh, this question was excluded from that Committee. What does my hon. friend mean by an early date?
§ MR. MCKENNAThat Question had better be addressed to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.