§ Mr. STAVELEY-HILLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government have received representations from Irish sources as to the desirability of amending the Finance Bill, 1909, in respect of all or any of the following subjects; the increased Whisky Duty, the Manufacturers' Licence Duty on small breweries, further safeguards for small owners from the new Death Duties and the new Stamp Duties, declaratory words clearly exempting agricultural land from the Land Taxes, and the exemption of agricultural land from revaluation; and whether it is proposed to amend the Finance Bill, 1909, to meet Irish objections on the above points, or in any other way to secure the removal of Irish opposition to that measure?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEThe hon. Member can hardly expect me to anticipate my financial statement by replying to the latter part of the question. As regards the first part, like every other Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have been in receipt of representations on every portion of the Budget from all quarters of the United 882 Kingdom. There are people in all parts of the Kingdom who prefer that others should pay taxes instead of themselves, and Ireland is no exception to this rule.
§ Mr. LONSDALEHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been called to the speech made by the hon. Member for Cork City (Mr. William O'Brien)?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise out of the question.
§ Mr. LONSDALEDid the right hon. Gentleman give a qualified assent to the concessions set forth in the speech of the hon. Member for Cork?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat does not arise.
§ Mr. JAMES HOPEHas the right hon. Gentleman given a conditional undertaking to accede to any of the representations made from Ireland on the Budget?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. Member had better put down that question.
§ Mr. CHARLES CRAIG (for Captain Craig)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the proposed relief of taxation which is to be granted to the Irish taxpayers in respect of their burdens under the Budget of 1909–10 will be made in the Budget of 1909–10, or will be embodied in the Budget for the present financial year?
§ Mr. LONSDALEalso asked whether it is still the intention of the Government to reimpose as from December last all the taxes and duties which were embodied in the Finance Bill of last year?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEAs I have already stated on several occasions, I cannot deal with questions of this kind in anticipation of the statement which I shall make early next week.
§ Mr. LONSDALEIf the right hon. Gentleman agrees to the reimposition of these duties will they apply equally to all parts of the United Kingdom?
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI think the hon. Member will be quite satisfied about that when he hears my statement next week.