§ 22. Mr. NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take the first opportunity afforded him by any relaxation of tension in the Near East to put an end to the prevailing uncertainty as to the Government's intentions with regard to the further taxation of land?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will refer the hon. Member to the statement recently made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his speech at Ladybank, to which I have nothing to add.
§ Mr. RAFFANHas the right hon. Gentleman's attention been drawn to the fact that an inquiry on the main question is being conducted by the Land Union, who have taken a large quantity of evidence on the subject, and will he delay any declaration of opinion until after that evidence is published?
§ Mr. NEWMANIs the evidence secret and confidential?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEMy attention has been called to the inquiry, and I meant to call the attention of the House to it last night, but I had no opportunity.
§ Mr. PRETYMANThere is not a single word of truth in it.
§ 24. Mr. ROYDSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the terms of reference to the promised Committee of experts to inquire into the working of land valuation under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, to which he would be willing to agree, would include an inquiry as to whether the true site value of agricultural land is being ascertained and credit given for all improvements by owners and their predecessors?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIf the hon. Member will refer to the Debate of 20th June last he will find the proposed terms of reference in full.
§ Mr. ROYDSWill the right hon. Gentleman give me an answer to my question, and say whether the reference will embrace the subject-matter of this question?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI gave an answer to that the very first time you put the question. I said I differentiated between a question of policy and questions of the administration of the Act. If the question is as to whether the Act has been fairly administered, that is a question for a Committee of experts. If it is anything that involves policy—and this does involve policy—then you must have a different Committee. I have never said the Government are not prepared to appoint a Committee of that kind, but I should like right hon. and hon. Gentlemen to make up their minds which of the two they want; then the Government will give their answer.
§ Mr. ROYDSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 20th June he stated definitely that the subject matter of my question should be embraced in the inquiry?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEIn so far as it bears upon the administration of the Act certainly it will be included. As I understand hon. Members opposite have extended their demand. They are asking now for an expression of opinion on a question of policy, which is outside the Act, and which would involve an amendment of the Act. I have never stated that the Government were opposed to that, but I should like hon. Gentlemen to make up their minds which of the two-they want.
§ Mr. PRETYMANIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the policy of the Act is so extraordinarily obscure that it is impossible to differentiate between administration and policy?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe obscurity might be in the critics, and not in the Act itself.
§ 25. Mr. ROYDSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when an opportunity will be afforded the House of discussing the terms of reference and the constitution of the committee of experts to be appointed to inquire into the working of land valuation under the Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI will refer the hon. Member to the answer that I gave him on the 9th October, to which I have nothing to add. The question of affording facilities for discussion is not one for me.
§ Mr. PRETYMANDoes the Chancellor of the Exchequer think that an unofficial inquiry is a good substitute for this?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have already stated that I am perfectly prepared for inquiry, but I do want the Opposition to make up their minds about it.
§ Mr. ROYDSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that on 20th June, an understanding was come to with the Government that an opportunity for the discussion of this subject-matter should be afforded to the House?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThere have been repeated discussions upon it in the course of the present Session. In my recollection there have been at least two Debates upon that very topic.
§ 54. Mr. NEWMANasked whether it is the policy of the Government to levy a Budget tax on the value of land to meet the present cost of education, poor relief, and certain other services, and in substitution for taxation now imposed on the food of the nation?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe Government have already obtained the sanction of Parliament to their fiscal arrangements for the year. It is not their intention to propose any alterations in the year's Budget.