HC Deb 07 March 1916 vol 80 c1359
69. Mr. CURRIE

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the Associated Chambers of Commerce resolution regarding the non-assessment of co-operative societies to Income Tax; whether any attempt has ever been made to ascertain even approximately how much of the reputed profit or surplus of £14,000,000 a year arising on the operations of such bodies results from genuine co-operative trading and how much from ordinary competitive trading; and, if not, whether he will consider the pracicability of instituting such an inquiry or of otherwise arriving at a fair basis of assessment?

Mr. McKENNA

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. For the rest, I fear I can add nothing to the many replies on this subject which I have already given.