§ Mr. FELLasked what is the reason why no Increment Duty has yet been assessed and paid on any of the 292,998 deeds of transfer of land which have been presented for stamping since the Budget, 1909–10, came into operation; whether no Increment Duly is payable, or whether there is such congestion in the Land Valuation Department that it cannot be assessed; and, if the latter is the case, then is this congestion increasing from month to month?
§ Mr. MASTERMANExcept in cases of special urgency "occasion" valuations are dealt with as they arise in connection with the general valuation, no serious inconvenience being entailed by this procedure. As I have already explained to the hon. Member, there is no delay in stamping deeds, and the instrument as stamped is complete. I anticipate some increase in the number of occasion valuations delayed for the general valuation, but, as the latter approaches completion, the delay in dealing with occasions will get less and less.
§ Mr. FELLIs it not the case that there are now 292,000 vendors who cannot tell what liability they are under?
§ Mr. MASTERMANOh, no; quite a number of them have certainly had information as to the assessment of the Increment Tax or if there is any Increment Tax to pay.