HC Deb 14 March 1910 vol 15 cc20-1
Viscount DUNCANNON

asked the Prime Minister whether last year's Budget provided £3,000,000 for the unemployed and £18,000,000 for social reform; and if he will specify the items composing these two sums and the exact services involved?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd-George)

In framing the Budget of last year, as I explained in my Financial Statement, my aim was to provide both for immediate requirements in respect of social reform and unemployment, and also to select such taxes as out of their growing produce might be expected to secure a surplus for the further schemes which we had in mind. In respect of unemployment, I had to provide for unemployment insurance, which will cost some £1,250,000, and for Labour Exchanges, at an annual cost of about £250,000 I also provided £600,000 for the Road Board, and, further, for an annual charge, after the present year, of £900,000 for the Development Fund. Of the remaining £15,000,000, I provided about £11,000,000 for old age pensions and towards the cost of removing the pauper disqualification. The balance of £4,000,000 I proposed should be utilised in the initiation of a scheme for contributory insurance against sickness, invalidity, etc.

Mr. GEORGE WYNDHAM

When the Chancellor of the Exchequer says that he "provided" are we to understand that he counted on the growth of all the taxes in the Budget? Was some of the provision which he has spoken of based upon future expectations in respect, for example, to the new Licence Duties and the land values?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

It was based rather on growth, as the right hon. Gentleman will see if he looks at the White Paper which I issued last year, on taxes like the Death Duties. For instance, Legacy and Succession Duties will fall due this year, and would not be collected last year at all. It depended partly on the Land Taxes, but mainly on the Succession and Legacy Duties.

Mr. WYNDHAM

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he is any more able now than he was when that Return was made by the Treasury to state what, if any, will be the increase in the new Licence Duties and the new Land Duties?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

I never said a word about Licence Duties, but with regard to the second part of the question, I think the right hon. Gentleman is asking me to anticipate my Budget statement for the year.

Mr. G. D. FABER

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman when the Budget containing all these inestimable blessings will be before the House?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

I should have said that it is not merely the Death Duties but the Super-tax, Income Tax, and Death Duties. The right hon. Gentleman will find that the growth is mainly in these three items—upon the growth of which I depend for the purpose of paying these charges.

Mr. WYNDHAM

Am I not correct in saying that the right hon. Gentleman has not been able to form any Estimate in addition to the Estimate given in the White Paper—an estimate upon which he said it was impossible to depend?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

I shall certainly be able to form an Estimate for the coming year, when the time to do so arrives.

Mr. LEVERTON HARRIS

May I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he Estimated that he would receive the full amount of the Excise?

Mr. LLOYD-GEORGE

The hon. Gentleman is cross-examining me now about a matter which does not strictly arise. He is examining me on the Budget statement for the coming year.