§ 25. Mr. HARRY LAWSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the loss inflicted upon the licensed trade in the county of London under the Finance Act, 1909, by reason of the higher assessment of licensed houses 1160 under the Metropolitan Quinquennial Valuation Act as compared with the rest of the country; and whether he is prepared to deal with this state of affairs in the Finance Bill of this year?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)The principle of assessment is the same throughout the whole country, namely, the full annual value at which the licensed premises are worth to be let by the year, and on this principle no inequality, so far as is known, exists in the assessments in the Metropolis as compared with the rest of the country.
§ Mr. HARRY LAWSONIs the Chancellor of the Exchequer aware that assessments are screwed up much higher in the Metropolitan area than outside, and that, therefore, a real injustice is inflicted in this way?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI do not think that the assessments are screwed up much higher. The rents are much higher, and to that extent they have got to pay more in their taxes.