§ 31. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the reasons for the delay in the issue of the Report of the Departmental Committee on Imperial and Local Taxation; and whether, in view of his constantly expressed inability to consider the financial grievances of local authorities pending its publication, and the consequent widespread protest on the part of such bodies, he will request the chairman of the Committee to proceed with the drafting of some Report, interim if not final, without further delay?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI have no reason to believe that there has been or will be any undue delay on the part of the Committee, regard being had to the complicated nature of the subject.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman endeavour to pacify the county councils by indicating that it is desired that this Report should be published at an early date?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI would rather have a careful consideration of one or two very difficult problems which I indicated some time ago. For instance, what is to be done with the area problem? Up to the present they have not considered that fully.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTDoes the right hon. Gentleman still bear in mind that two years ago he assured the House that the Committee would take only a short time with their deliberations, and would publish a Report at an early date?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThey have found the problem much bigger than they anticipated when they first commenced their sittings.
§ Mr. OUTHWAITEMeanwhile will the right hon. Gentleman receive a deputation from the Stoke Borough Council on this subject next week?
§ 32. Mr. HUGH BARRIEasked whether the Local Taxation Committee have refused to hear evidence from Irish witnesses until they have finished hearing English and Scottish evidence; and if so whether he has made representations to the Committee in reference to hearing Irish evidence immediately, and with what result?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI understand that the Local Taxation Committee have postponed the hearing of evidence in regard to Ireland, but I am not aware of their reasons for doing so. The order of their inquiry is for the Committee to decide, and I do not propose to interfere with their discretion in the matter.
§ Mr. BARRIEHas any direction been given by the right hon. Gentleman to the committee?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not think it would be for me to issue directions to a Committee of that kind. Were I to do so, I should be subjected to the criticism of the hon. Member who sits behind the hon. Gentleman, and who certainly would not agree with him in any direction of this kind being given.
§ Mr. BARRIEThe right hon. Gentleman said he would do so.
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI said I would write to the Committee, but that I would not express any opinion as to whether or not the Committee should take Irish evidence.
§ Sir J. LONSDALEHave the Committee made any representations to the right hon. Gentleman?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI should not like to answer without notice. I have had no intimation of anything of the kind. Perhaps the hon. Gentleman will put down a question?