HC Deb 05 March 1912 vol 35 cc190-1
Mr. LANE-FOX

asked whether, except on the occasion of his annual Budget statement, it will in future be impossible for Members of this House to obtain detailed figures as to the yield of the taxes on increment of land, on undeveloped land value, and on reversions, without the inclusion among them of the yield of the duty on mineral rights; and why the Treasury insist upon so concealing the yield of these three taxes?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The position will be just the same in the future as it has been in the past. I have already explained that it is a long-established practice of Chancellors of the Exchequer of both political parties not to anticipate their annual financial statements by announcing before the close of the financial year the yield of individual taxes. So far from this practice being based on a desire to conceal the yield of the Land Values Duties, those duties provide the single instance of a recent departure from it.

Mr. LANE-FOX

Is it not in order to conceal the deficiency of the Land Taxes that the more fruitful Mineral Duty is brought in?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

The hon. Gentleman knows perfectly well—he was present I think during the Debates on the Budget—I introduced the Mineral Duty as part of the Land Taxes; it was treated as part of the controversy on the Land Taxes.

Mr. LANE-FOX

Did not the right hon. Gentleman estimate separately in his Budget for the Land Taxes and the Mineral Duties?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Certainly! and I have not the faintest doubt the same practice will be followed when I am making my statement for the coming year.

Mr. CASSEL

Were these duties not introduced originally as duties on undeveloped minerals?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Yes, certainly! This is an improved method of collecting the same taxes.

Sir C. KINLOCH-COOKE

Did not the right hon. Gentleman give me information in reply to questions of a different nature?

Mr. LLOYD GEORGE

Really I cannot carry in my memory all the questions of the hon. Member.

Mr. LANE-FOX

When we ask these questions the dates have been given and it is only when it began to be very evident that the—

Mr. SPEAKER

The hon. Member is now making a statement.