§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSI wish to ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer a question of which I have given him private notice, namely, whether he is prepared to state what Amendments he will introduce in Clause 25 of the Finance Bill (Exemption of land held for public or charitable purposes) in order to meet the request of a deputation representative of secondary schools that was received by Sir Robert Chalmers on Friday last on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who, unfortunately, was prevented from attending to receive the deputation?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd-George)I am sorry that I could not be present to receive the deputation on Friday last. The Amendments will be found on the Paper to-day.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINMay I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is not the case that hon. Members interested were promised full notice of these Amendments before they were called upon to discuss them? I am informed by one of the Members specially interested that that is so. I would ask further whether it is not the case that the House sat until a quarter to nine o'clock this morning, that these Amendments were only handed in yesterday, that they were not circulated to Members, or were not available for Members, until some time about one o'clock to-day, and whether he thinks, under these circumstances, that the House has had due notice of the Amendments, which entirely transform the clause, introduce entirely new matter and exemptions into it, and wholly alter the exemptions originally appearing in the clause. I will ask the indulgence of the House to make one observation in the nature of an acknowledgment of the personal courtesy which was shown to me by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. In putting a question of this kind I ought to say that the right hon. Gentleman did offer to show me the Amendments this morning. It was about half-past eight, and as I had sat practically continuously in this House from about three o'clock yesterday afternoon I thought I had something better to do than to set to work to consider these Amendments at once, and I declined the right hon. Gentleman's offer; I think it is due to him that I should make that statement.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe right hon. Gentleman tells me that I made a 1379 promise to give full notice of the Amendments. I accept that statement at once, though I cannot recollect giving any pledge of the kind. If I gave such a pledge, I have no desire to recede from it. It would have been a very reasonable pledge to ask, and I would probably have given it. I very much regret that the Amendments were not on the Paper until this morning; I did intimate to two Gentlemen interested in the matter—the hon. Member for Oxford University and the hon. Member for Cambridge University—the general character of the Amendments on which we proceed. I do not know whether they really think that there should be more time given for the consideration of the Amendments, but if they think so, I should not resist the suggestion.
§ Sir WILLIAM ANSONMay I say that although the Chancellor of the Exchequer never gave us a definite pledge, he invited the hon. Member for Cambridge University and myself to meet him some time ago. The matter had been before him for some time, and he indicated generally the character of the Amendments to be introduced. We have been wondering ever since when we should see the specific Amendments by which he proposes to give effect to the suggestions made to him.
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERI would remind the hon. Baronet that this matter can be better dealt with in Committee of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. AUSTEN CHAMBERLAINI am much obliged to the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and I accept his offer.
§ Sir PHILIP MAGNUSHaving regard to the fact that I did not see the Amendments until two o'clock to-day, may I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has placed an Amendment on the Paper which will exempt school property which is held under charitable endowments from the taxes—
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERReally, there will be plenty of time before we come go the clause to see the Amendments which the right hon. Gentleman has put down.