49 Mr. DOYLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he can hold out any hope that the recommendations of the Committee dealing with Income Tax reform will be dealt with in the next Budget, and more especially with that proposing that such tax shall only begin when the income is £250 per year; and if it is his intention to apply the principle of graduation to all incomes over the sum named; (2) if he will state for how long it is his intention to maintain the excess profits tax which is hampering productive and commercial enterprise?
51. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether male Income Tax payers are entitled under certain conditions to an abatement of £50 in consideration of keeping a housekeeper; and whether he will extend this privilege to female Income Tax payers who are in many cases obliged to work for their own living and are no less in need of keeping a housekeeper out of a small income?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)I must ask my hon. Friends to restrain their natural curiosity until the Budget is opened.
§ Mr. HAROLD BRIGGSIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that many firms find considerable difficulty in obtaining ready money to pay these taxes, and will he favourably coasider the question that short-dated mortgages should be issued to these firms?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI can add nothing to the answer I have already given.
§ Mr. ATKEYWill the Committee sitting to consider Income Tax reform also take into account the duplication of collectors of the tax—does that come within the scope of their reference?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Royal Commission on Income Tax has reported, and if the hon. Member will wait a very short time he will have their Report in his hands.
§ Colonel WEDGWOODWhen can we expect that Report?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThere is another question on that later.
§ 62. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he proposes to circulate the Report of the Royal Commission on Income Tax?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI hope that the Report will be in the hands of hon. Members to-morrow afternoon. In the short time available to me since I received a copy of the Report, I have been unable to complete my study of it, but I have read enough to assure myself of its great value, and I am glad to take this opportunity of expressing my deep sense of obligation to Lord Colwyn and the other Commissioners for the public service which they have rendered.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the full evidence also be published? Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that we have only had extracts up to the present?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI must ask for notice of that. I think the evidence will be published, but it certainly will not be in the hands of Members to-morrow afternoon when the Report will be. It takes much longer to print the evidence.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONWill the right hon. Gentleman see that it is published before the Budget is introduced?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI will see what can be done.
57. Colonel NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number of effective Income Tax payers for the financial year ending 5th April, 1919; and will he say from how many of this number it was found impossible 2019 to obtain payment of tax due in respect of the year 1918–19, and the total revenue lost in consequence?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe number of effective Income Tax payers for the year ended 5th April, 1919, is estimated at 3,406,000. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available, but my hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that the proportion of duty lost is very small.