HC Deb 08 March 1910 vol 14 cc1305-7
Mr. DUNDAS WHITE

asked what was the estimated loss to the revenue during the present financial year owing to the stoppage of the Finance Bill in another place; how much of that loss would probably be recovered subsequently; and what would probably be the amount of the ultimate loss from that cause?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The loss to the revenue of the current financial year resulting from the rejection of the Finance Bill is estimated at approximately £28,500,000. It is not at present possible to say how much of this loss will ultimately be recovered.

Lord HUGH CECIL

Arising out of that answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman how much of that sum would have been saved if a temporary Bill for the collection of the tax had been passed through Parliament before the dissolution, and how much if the Resolution relating to the Income Tax had been adopted immediately after the address?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

With regard to the second part of the question of the Noble Lord, it is quite impossible to say how much would have been saved if a Bill had been passed. I presume he means an Income Tax Bill.

Lord HUGH CECIL

I asked how much would have been saved if a temporary Bill levying the then existing taxes had been passed before the dissolution, and, secondly, how much would have been saved by the adoption of a simple Income Tax Resolution, after the Address this year?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The Noble Lord must give me a great many more details. I asked on Friday: Does he mean 1s. or 1s. 2d.? Does he mean to include the Super-tax or to drop the Super-tax? There are all sorts of conditions which he must, supply me before I can answer across the floor of the House. It depends entirely upon a good many circumstances, which I gave him a good opportunity of explaining on Friday, but neither he nor his Friends were able to do so. I categorically asked questions on these points. I could not get answers, and, since I could not get answers, how am I able to furnish an estimate on a basis the Noble Lord cannot define?

Lord HUGH CECIL

How much would have been saved if the taxes in fact levied under Resolution of last Session were continued to be levied under a temporary Act passed through the last Parliament or revived by Resolution passed in this House?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

If the Noble Lord means the Resolutions of the Budget—if those had been passed there would have been no loss at all.

Mr. JAMES HOPE

Arising out of the original answer, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman how much less would have been the loss if the Finance Bill had been defeated on the Third Reading in this House?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

If the Finance Bill had been defeated in the House of Commons, well then there would have been another Government in power, and the House of Commons, which has or ought to have control, would have passed other Resolutions which would have been adapted to the views and opinions of that House of Commons.