53. Mr. FRED HALL (Dulwich)asked the Prime Minister whether his attention has been called to the latest published results of the new taxes on increment value, reversion, and undeveloped land; what was the expenditure incurred in obtaining the revenue of under £40,000 under these heads; and whether such results will be taken into consideration by the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Committee now sitting with the sanction of the Prime Minister?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)The amount of revenue collected under these heads in the year ended 31st March, 1912, was £57,695. With regard to the expenditure incurred in obtaining this revenue, I may refer the hon. Member to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to the Treasury, to the hon. Member for the Oswestry Division of Shropshire on 22nd February last. As regards the last part of the question, the matter rests with the Committee itself.
Mr. FRED HALLDo the figures realise the anticipations of the right hon. Gentleman himself, as stated by him in introducing his Budget in 1909?
§ Mr. GOLDSMITHIs the right hon. Gentleman prepared to refer the whole question to a Committee of hon. Members on both sides of the House?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not see how that arises out of the answer.
72 and 73. Mr. OR MS BY-GOREasked (72) whether the Government's Secret Land Inquiry Committee is taking evidence as to the management of estates in districts in Wales as well as in England and Scotland, or whether the Report of the Royal Commission on Land Questions in Wales is considered to contain sufficient information for his purpose; and (73) whether the agents of the Government's secret Land Inquiry will furnish the landlord or agent of the estate which they propose to investigate with information as to the dates on which they propose to visit the estate. in order that an opportunity may be given to a landlord or his agent to correct in person any partial or one-sided statement before such statement is sent to him for platform or other use?
§ 77. Mr. W. PEELasked whether, in view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman has decided to postpone for the 1703 present his land campaign owing to complications in the Balkans, he will direct that for the same reason the members of the secret Committee should cease their operations until the issue of the war has been decided?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI presume the hon. Members refer to the unofficial Committee appointed to investigate the question of land reform and kindred problems. If so, it rests with the Committee itself to settle the details of its procedure. His Majesty's Government have no responsibility in the matter. The Government have not yet received any reports from either Wales or elsewhere.
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIs this Committee going to Wales?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have already answered that question. The procedure of the Committee rests with the Committee itself. The Government have no responsibility in the matter
§ Mr. PEELWhy have the proceedings of this Committee come to an end during the war between Turkey and the Balkans, and why did they flourish during the war between Turkey and Italy?
§ Sir J. D. REESShould not the reason given for dropping this agitation operate to restrain the right hon. Gentleman and the Secretary to the Treasury from expressing open sympathy with a hostile coalition against our allies the Turks?
§ 76. Mr. W. PEELasked whether any persons other than British subjects are members of the secret Committee which is preparing material for the land campaign?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAll the members of the Land Inquiry Committee are British subjects.
§ 89. Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to give to the House the names of the members of the Land Inquiry Committee which he has appointed; and, if not, why not?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have nothing to add to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on the 10th July, to which I referred the hon. and learned Member last Monday.