§ Lord BALCARRES (on behalf of Mr. Bridgeman)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can state the cause of the large increase of £114,879 in the cost of administration of the Inland Revenue Department in 1908–9, making the percentage of the cost of collection to the amount collected the highest in the last ten years; and if he can give any estimate of what the cost of the service will be in the current year?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEThe increase in 1908–9 was due to two principal causes, namely: (1) the administration of the Old Age Pensions Act, and (2) the enlargement of the tax surveying staff under the Finance Act of 1907. The former of these has, of course, no connection with the cost of collection of taxes. For 1909–10, as the hon. 12 Member will see from the current Estimates, the Inland Revenue total (including allied services) is £1,451,714.