§ MR. BOWLES (Lambeth, Norwood)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of poundage paid, and to how many collectors, in respect of the collection of income-tax during the financial year 1905–6, at what rate was that poundage calculated, and 411 on what ground was it paid; were any payments of poundage made during that year in cases where the income-tax was levied by deduction at the source; and, if so, at what rate, on what ground, to how many collectors, and to what total amount.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire E.On page 42 of the Revenue Departments Estimates for the current year will be found the amounts provided for remuneration of collectors (and assessors) of income-tax. The amounts expended in 1905–6 corresponded very closely with the sums provided in the Vote for that year. The remuneration of collectors in England and Scotland is made by means of fixed allowances in lieu of poundage, and poundage is only paid to them in respect of a very small fraction of their duties, viz., that connected with the collection of tax on certificates of removal. In Ireland collectors are still paid by poundage, of which the rate is fixed from year to year according to the circumstances of the year. The poundage payable to bankers and others for assessment and collection of duty on foreign dividends is at present 4d. in the £., or 1d. in excess of the minimum fixed by the Customs and Inland Revenue Act, 1885. The number of collectors receiving pound-ago could only be ascertained by a detailed investigation of the accounts, which would entail considerable labour.