§ SIR. EDWARD SASSOON (Hythe)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether co-operative societies are exempted from the payment of income-tax; and, if so, whether he comtemplates 1219 legislation to make these societies assessable to the tax.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) This question was fully examined by the Departmental Committee on Income Tax, presided over by the late Lord Ritchie. The Committee advised that no case was made out for alterations of income-tax law in regard to co-operative societies (see paragraphs 130–139 of Report [Cd. 2575], 1905).
| Year. | Strength. | Total, all ranks. | ||
| Officers. | Warrant officers. | Non-commissioned officers and men. | ||
| 1st January 1896 | 7,756 | 907 | 213,531 | 222,194 |
| 1st January 1897 | 7,721 | 917 | 212,231 | 220,869 |
| 1st January 1898 | 7,689 | 921 | 212,393 | 221,003 |
| 1st January 1899 | 8,537 | 982 | 222,332 | 231,851 |
| 1st January 1900 | 9,318 | 1,081 | 291,145 | 301,544 |
| 1st January 1901 | 13,410 | 1,225 | 406,538 | 421,173 |
| 1st January 1902 | 12,882 | 1,253 | 383,547 | 397,682 |
| 1st January 1903 | 12,000 | 1,267 | 311,386 | 324,653 |
| 1st October 1903 | 11,759 | 1,349 | 279,303 | 292,411 |
| 1st October 1904 | 11,156 | 1,310 | 274,774 | 287,240 |
| 1st October 1905 | 10,788 | 1,310 | 260,035 | 272,133 |
§ N.B.—The regimental strength does not include the permanent staff of the auxiliary forces, staff, or miscellaneous establishments.