§ 59. Mr. KINGasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to move the Select Committee to report upon possible schedules for a Luxury Tax in such a form that ladies may sit as members of the Committees; if so, how many ladies will be appointed; and whether he will issue as a White Paper a translation of the French Luxury Tax with the regulations and schedules adopted in connection therewith?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe hon. Member will see from the proposed terms of reference that it is intended that the Select Committee shall have power to appoint persons from outside its own body to serve on Sub-Committees. The appointment of such persons is, of course, entirely a matter for the Committee itself. The answer to the last part of the question is in the affirmative.
§ Mr. KINGIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that only one Scottish representative and no Irish representatives are proposed for this Select Committee?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe question refers to ladies.
§ Sir W. ESSEXWill the right hon. Gentleman put these prices in the list he proposes to issue in the English equivalent as well as the relative values of each?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThat seems to be a. useful suggestion, and I will consider it.
§ Mr. BILLINGWill the right hon. Gentleman see that there is nobody put on this Committee interested in the sale of luxuries?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWEverybody is interested in a sense.
§ Mr. BILLINGProfiting by it?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWThe Committee has been appointed with a view to getting those who will be most efficient on the Committee.
§ Mr. PRINGLEIs it not advisable to exclude as much as possible those interested in the sale of luxuries while it may be desirable to take their evidence?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWI doubt if that would be wise. A Committee of this kind certainly wants as much experience as can be got in the House, and I should be, very much surprised if the House had any suspicions as to the interested motives of any members of the Committee.