§ 41. Mr. CHARLES BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he proposes to grant the Return standing in the name of the hon. Member for the Wilton Division showing the present estimated gross capital value of real property and of realised personal property, respectively, and the proportions of Imperial taxation exclusively borne by each, in continuation of Parliamentary Paper, No. 345, of Session 1885; and, if not, whether he will state the reason for declining in 1912 a Return granted in 1885?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. As regards the second part, the explanatory memorandum appended to the Return of 1885 admitted that "the bases of calculation were in many instances 1284 necessarily arbitrary, and the results unavoidably conjectural" This is equally true at the present time, while the growth in the size and complexity of the figures involved so widens the margin of error as to render the Return practically worthless.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman be prepared to grant an official Return showing the disproportionate share of taxation which is being borne by real property as compared with personalty?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf it is possible to get those figures I certainly would not object to a Return of the kind. If the hon. Gentleman will put down the suggestion which he makes, I will certainly give it favourable consideration.
§ Mr. WEDGWOODAre not the taxes on real property in the nature of a hereditary burden on the land?