HC Deb 04 May 1914 vol 62 c92

Now I will read my figures. This is how the account stands. I have to find £9,800,000. The additional Income Tax this year, less the double relief for children, will come to £5,250,000. Foreign reinvestments will come this year to £250,000, and the Super-tax will come to £2,500,000 this year. We do not propose to commence to levy the new Death Duties except in respect of deaths after a certain date in August this year. Less the cost of the quick succession allowance, they will produce £650,000. The abolition of the Settlement Estate Duty will come to £150,000. That brings the total up to £8,800,000 this year. I have still got £1,000,000 to find. The Committee would like to hear the figures of the produce of these taxes for 1915–16. The yield of the additional taxation in that year would be—Income Tax, £6,085,000, less the deductions, £5,715,000; foreign investments we hope will produce next year £500,000; the Super-tax, £5,500,000; Death Duties, £2,115,000; the abolition of the Settlement Estate Duty, £900,000. I have got to find a million this year. When hon. Members figure out the effect upon next year of new taxation they will find, on the assumption that the present deficiency continues, that there will be a greater gap next year. Part of the gap next year I hope to bridge by the reduction in the Navy Estimates, of which my right hon. Friend made a forecast. He gave his reasons for coming to that conclusion, and they are substantial reasons, that the period of arrears and of abnormal shipbuilding will be passed; and there was also the question of the oil reserve, and one or two other points upon which he confidently based his anticipation of a substantial reduction. But still there will be a gap next year as well as this year. How is that to be filled up?

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