§ Mr. GOULDINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state whether the finding of the Royal Commission on the Housing of the Working Classes in 1884 with regard to the rating of vacant land was based upon any evidence before that Commission?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSE (on behalf of the Chancellor of the Exchequer)The Commission do not refer in their Report to the evidence on which this particular finding is based, but evidence on the point was submitted to them by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for West. Birmingham, who said that all lands surrounding urban improvements ought to be specially taxed, and, further, that the ground landlords of the urban area itself ought not to "escape scot free." If there is a general desire that that evidence should be reprinted, my right hon. Friend will be very glad to consider it.