§ 42. Mr. GRETTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the items of estimated national expenditure in 1912–13, as set out in the Income Tax demand notes now being issued, including one for £23,809,000 in respect of the Post Office; and whether, seeing that, so far from the Post Office costing the taxpayers the sum named, there is an actual profit of over £5,000,000 there from, which goes to reduce taxation, he will take steps to have the item omitted or its true significance explained?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer fettle first part of the question is in the affirmative. As regards the second part, the object of the table is to show, under the chief items, the aggregate estimated expenditure for the year. It would obviously be impossible to omit the expenditure on the Post Office, and I see no sufficient reason to complicate the table by adding explanations as to the sources of revenue out of which provision is made for the various items mentioned.