§ 73 and 74. Mr. C. BATHURSTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he can state approximately from official information at the Treasury what relation the net profits of the industry bear to the amount expended on workmen's wages in the case of agriculture and in the case of the other five leading industries taken together, respectively; or, alternatively, how much greater is the ratio of profits to wages in the latter than in the former case; and (2) if from official figures at the Treasury he can state approximately what is the average return upon capital embarked in agriculture and upon that embarked in the next five leading industries of the country taken together or, alternatively, in all the other national industries?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThe answer in each case is in the negative. I may, however, remind the hon. Member that as regards farmers Income Tax, except in a very few cases, is charged under Schedule B on a third of the rental.
§ Mr. C. BATHURSTWill the right hon. Gentleman, when he does pursue an inquiry into this subject, take that into account among other factors, and, if possible, give the House the result?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs the hon. Gentleman knows, we have no official information. The difficulty is that the farmers are the only industry who do not pay Income Tax upon their profits.