HC Deb 18 December 1912 vol 45 cc1483-4
34. Mr. ROYDS

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the number of dwelling houses in Great Britain under the annual value of £20 exempt from In habited House Duty at the 31st March, 1908, 31st March, 1909, 31st March, 1910, 31st March, 1911, and 31st March, 1912, respectively?

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)

With the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate my reply with the Votes, as it involves lengthy statistics.

Mr. ROYDS

Can the right hon. Gentleman tell us why, in 1910–11, there were only 10,000 new houses, compared with 80,000 in the previous year?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

When the statistics are published perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put to me a question on the subject. I do not know what the facts are.

Mr. FRED HALL

May I ask whether the decrease in employment was not due to the operation of the Budget of 1909?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

On the contrary, employment in the building trade has improved enormously since the Budget.