§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, with a view to providing the funds for old-age pensions he will consider the desirableness of imposing a tax upon betting transactions and racing stakes, as is done in British Colonies and foreign countries.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH,) Fifeshire, E.The adoption of my hon. friends suggestion would appear to involve as a preliminary step the validation of betting transactions—a somewhat far-reaching proposal, which he will not expect me to discuss within the limits of a Parliamentary answer.
§ MR. J. WARD (Stoke-on-Trent)Does that apply to stakes? I think they ought all to be confiscated by the State.
§ [No Answer was returned.]