§ From and after the fifth day of April, nineteen hundred and twenty-two, as respects England, and from and after the twenty-fourth day of May, in the same year, as respects Scotland, the Acts relating to Inhabited House Duty shall not apply to any house of a less annual value than forty-five pounds.—[Mr. Sutton.]
§ Brought up, and read the First time.
§ Mr. SUTTONI beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
I believe that up to the time the Act was passed all houses were exempt under £20 a year, and we are asking now that all houses should be exempt under £45 a year. I believe the Chancellor of the Exchequer will realise that there are tens of thousands of working people whose rents are very high indeed. Even corporations, under housing schemes, are charging as much as £1 or 25s. a week for houses for the working classes, and we believe on this side of the House that it is unfair that Inhabited House Duty should be paid on so large a rent. We are hoping that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will see his way to accept this Clause. If there is a class of people who are practically crippled financially at the present time on account of unemployment it is the working classes of this 1360 country. The Minister of Labour admitted this afternoon that we have about 1½ million people unemployed, and there are tens of thousands working short time. I hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the interests of these poor people, will accept this Clause.
§ Mr. WIGNALLI beg to second the Motion.
§ Sir L. SCOTTAt the present time, in regard to houses on which the lower rate of duty is paid—shops, public houses, hotels, etc.—houses under £20 are exempt, and those between £20 and £40 pay 2d., those over £40 and not exceeding £60 pay 4d. Ordinary dwelling houses stand at 6d. Those are not high rates, and they have not been altered for 30 years. It is not a case in which the rate has been increased at all during the War period, for the purpose of raising extra revenue, and the Treasury do not feel that they can, in this case, make any concession. Of course, as we know, the value of money has gone down, and, consequently, rents, in some cases have risen; in fact, there has been a general rise in rentals corresponding to the decrease in the value of money, but the rate has not been increased at all, and 1361 the burden is not really a heavy one. For those reasons the Treasury do not feel that they can make the alteration asked for by the Clause. The question was raised by question and answer in this House, on the 21st March this year, when the Chancellor of the Exchequer stated quite plainly that he did not see his way to making any alteration in the present rates. The cost would be £550,000.
§ Mr. N. MACLEANThe right hon. Gentleman says that the inhabited rate has not been increased during the last 30 years. Does he not recognise that owing to the general increase in the rents, and increase in the assessments, the annual sum paid by inhabitants is undoubtedly greater? The right hon. Gentleman seems desirous of having the House believe that they are not paying—
§ Sir L. SCOTTI said the rate had not been increased, though I did admit that in consequence of the decrease in the value of money there had been a rise in the rentals.
§ Mr. MACLEANAnd the actual sum paid by the people, therefore, is greater
§ than it was before the War. The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked how much this would involve, and the answer is about £500,000. Is it not advisable to make a concession of this kind to these people when, earlier this afternoon, it was found necessary to make a concession to the mineral royalty owner? There was no outcry then on the part of the Solicitor-General and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that the country could not afford the sum to be conceded to these poor mineral owners. If people who are taking minerals out of the country without any right are given a concession, there is surely an obligation to make some concession to a portion of the population to whom no concession has been made during the whole passage of the Bill. This is surely a small concession. The hearts of hon. Members having been opened this afternoon, I hope, now that they have dined, and arrived at that warmth which comes from dining, that they will grant this concession.
§ Question put, "That the Clause be read a Second time."
§ The House divided: Ayes, 68; Noes, 206.
1363| Division No. 222.] | AYES. | [10.15 p.m. |
| Adamson, Rt. Hon. William | Graham, D. M. (Lanark, Hamilton) | Parkinson, John Allen (Wigan) |
| Ammon, Charles George | Graham, W. (Edinburgh, Central) | Rattan, Peter Wilson |
| Banton, George | Grundy, T. W. | Rendall, Athelstan |
| Barker, G. (Monmouth, Abertillery) | Guest, J. (York, W.R., Hemsworth) | Richardson, R. (Houghton-le Spring) |
| Barnes, Major H. (Newcastle, E.) | Hall, F. (York, W.R., Normanton) | Royce, William Stapleton |
| Barton, Sir William (Oldham) | Halls, Walter | Sexton, James |
| Bell, James (Lancaster, Ormskirk) | Hayday, Arthur | Sitch, Charles H. |
| Benn, Captain Wedgwood (Leith) | Henderson, Rt. Hon. A. (Widnes) | Smith, W. R. (Wellingborough) |
| Bowerman, Rt. Hon. Charles W. | Hirst, G. H. | Spoor, B. G. |
| Briant, Frank | Hogge, James Myles | Swan, J. E. |
| Bromfield, William | Holmes, J. Stanley | Thomson, T. (Middlesbrough, West) |
| Brown, James (Ayr and Bute) | Irving, Dan | Thorne, W. (West Ham, Plaistow) |
| Cairns, John | Jones, Morgan (Caerphilly) | Waterson, A. E. |
| Cape, Thomas | Kennedy, Thomas | Wedgwood, Colonel Josiah C. |
| Carter, W. (Nottingham, Mansfield) | Kenworthy, Lieut.-Commander I. M. | White, Charles F. (Derby, Western) |
| Cecil, Rt. Hon. Lord R. (Hitchin) | Lawson, John James | Wignall, James |
| Clynes, Rt. Hon. John R. | Lunn, William | Williams, Penry (Middlesbrough, E.) |
| Davies, A. (Lancaster, Clitheroe) | Maclean, Nell (Glasgow, Govan) | Wilson, James (Dudley) |
| Davies, Rhys John (Westhoughton) | Maclean, Rt. Hn. Sir D. (Midlothian) | Wood, Major M. M. (Aberdeen, C.) |
| Davison, J. E. (Smethwick) | Murray, Hon. A. C. (Aberdeen) | Young, Robert (Lancaster, Newton) |
| Edwards, G. (Norfolk, South) | Murray, Dr. D. (Inverness & Ross) | |
| Foot, Isaac | Myers, Thomas | TELLERS FOR THE AYES.— |
| Gaibraith. Samuel | Naylor, Thomas Ellis | Mr. Sutton and Mr. T. Griffiths. |
| Gillis, William | Newbould, Alfred Ernest | |
| NOES. | ||
| Agg-Gardner, Sir James Tynte | Barrie, Sir Charles Coupar (Banff) | Broad, Thomas Tucker |
| Ainsworth, Captain Charles | Bartley-Denniss, Sir Edmund Robert | Brown, Major D. C. |
| Amery, Rt. Hon. Leopold C. M. S. | Bellairs, Commander Cariyon W. | Brown, Brig.-Gen. Clifton (Newbury) |
| Armstrong, Henry Bruce | Betterton, Henry B. | Bruton, Sir James |
| Atkey, A. R. | Birchall, J. Dearman | Buchanan, Lieut.-Colonel A. L. H. |
| Bagley, Captain E. Ashton | Bird, Sir William B. M. (Chichester) | Buckley, Lieut.-Colonel A. |
| Baird, Sir John Lawrence | Blair, Sir Reginald | Burdon, Colonel Rowland |
| Balfour, George (Hampstead) | Borwick, Major G. O. | Campion, Lieut.-Colonel W. R. |
| Banbury, Rt. Hon. Sir Frederick G. | Bowyer, Captain G. W. E. | Carr, W. Theodore |
| Barnston, Major Harry | Bridgeman, Rt. Hon. William Clive | Casey, T. W. |
| Barrand, A. R. | Briggs, Harold | Chamberlain, N. (Birm., Ladywood) |
| Chilcot, Lieut.-Com. Harry W. | Hurd, Percy A. | Raw, Lieutenant-Colonel Dr. N. |
| Churchill, Ht. Hon. Winston S. | Hurst, Lieut.-Colonel Gerald B. | Renter, J. R. |
| Clay, Lieut.-Colonel H. H. Spender | Inskip, Thomas Walker H. | Renwick, Sir George |
| Clough, Sir Robert | Jackson, Lieut.-Colonel Hon. F. S. | Richardson, Sir Alex. (Gravesend, |
| Coats, Sir Stuart | Jephcott, A. R. | Richardson, Lt.-Col. Sir P. (Chertsey) |
| Colfox, Major Wm. Phillips | Jesson, C. | Roberts, Rt. Hon. G. H. (Norwich) |
| Colvin, Brig.-General Richard Beale | Jodrell, Neville Paul | Roberts, Samuel (Hereford, Hereford) |
| Conway, Sir W. Martin | Johnson, Sir Stanley | Roberts, Sir S. (Sheffield, Ecclesall) |
| Cooper, Sir Richard Ashmole | Johnstone, Joseph | Robinson, Sir T. (Lancs., Stretford) |
| Courthope, Lieut.-Col. George L. | Kelley, Major Fred (Rotherham) | Rodger, A. K. |
| Dalziel, Sir D. (Lambeth, Brixton) | Kidd, James | Roundell, Colonel R. F. |
| Davidson, J. C. C.(Hemel Hempstead) | King, Captain Henry Douglas | Royds, Lieut.-Colonel Edmund |
| Davidson, Major-General Sir J. H. | Lane-Fox, G. R. | Samuel, A. M. (Surrey, Farnham) |
| Davies, Thomas (Cirencester) | Law, Alfred J. (Rochdale) | Sanders, Colonel Sir Robert Arthur |
| Dawson, Sir Philip | Lindsay, William Arthur | Scott, A. M. (Glasgow, Bridgeton) |
| Du Pre, Colonel William Baring | Lister, Sir R. Ashton | Scott, Sir Leslie (Liverp'l, Exchange) |
| Eyres-Monsell, Com. Bolton M. | Locker-Lampson, G. (Wood Green) | Seddon, J. A. |
| Falle, Major Sir Bertram Godfray | Locker-Lampson, Com. O. (H'tingd'n) | Shaw, Hon, Alex. (Kilmarnock) |
| Fell, Sir Arthur | Lorden, John William | Shaw, William T. (Forfar) |
| Flannery, Sir James Fortescue | Lort-Williams, J. | Simm, M. T. |
| Ford, Patrick Johnston | Loyd, Arthur Thomas (Abingdon) | Smith, Sir Allan M. (Croydon, South) |
| Forestier-Walker, L. | McConnell, Thomas Edward | Smith, Sir Malcolm (Orkney) |
| Forrest, Walter | Mackinder, Sir H. J. (Camlachle) | Stanley, Major Hon. G. (Preston) |
| Foxcroft. Captain Charles Talbot | McLaren, Hon. H. D. (Leicester) | Stephenson, Lieut.-Colonel H. K. |
| Frece, Sir Walter de | McMicking, Major Gilbert | Sugden, W. H. |
| Ganzonl, Sir John | Macpherson, Rt. Hon. James I. | Surtees, Brigadier-General H. C. |
| Gee, Captain Robert | Macqulsten, F. A. | Sutherland, Sir William |
| Gibbs, Colonel George Abraham | Mallalieu, Frederick William | Taylor, J. |
| Gilbert, James Daniel | Marks, Sir George Croydon | Terrell, George (Wilts, Chippenham) |
| Gilmour, Lieut.-Colonel Sir John | Martin, A. E. | Thomson, F. C. (Aberdeen, South) |
| Glyn, Major Ralph | Matthews, David | Thomson, Sir W. Mitchell- (Maryhill) |
| Gray, Major Ernest (Accrington) | Molson, Major John Elsdale | Townley, Maximilian G. |
| Green, Joseph F. (Leicester, W.) | Morrison, Hugh | Tryon, Major George Clement |
| Greene, Lt.-Col. Sir W. (Hackn'y, N.) | Murchison, C. K. | Waddington, R. |
| Greenwood, William (Stockport) | Murray, Rt. Hon. C. D. (Edinburgh) | Wallace, J. |
| Grelg, Colonel Sir James William | Murray, John (Leeds, West) | Walters, Rt. Hon. Sir John Tudor |
| Grenfell, Edward Charles | Neal, Arthur | Walton, J. (York, W. R., Don Valley) |
| Guest, Capt. Rt. Hon. Frederick E. | Newman, Sir R. H. S. D. L. (Exeter) | Ward, Col. L. (Kingston-upon-Hull) |
| Guthrie, Thomas Maule | Nicholson, Brig.-Gen. J. (Westminster) | Ward, William Dudley (Southampton) |
| Hallwood, Augustine | Nicholson, Reginald (Doncaster) | Warner, Sir T. Courtenay T. |
| Hamilton, Sir George C. | Nicholson, William G. (Petersfield) | Warren, Sir Alfred H. |
| Hannon, Patrick Joseph Henry | Norris, Colonel Sir Henry G. | Weston, Colonel John Wakefield |
| Harmsworth, C. B. (Bedford, Luton) | Palmer, Major Godfrey Mark | Wheler, Col. Granville C. H. |
| Henderson, Lt.-Col. V. L. (Tradeston) | Palmer, Brigadier-General G. L. | Williams, C. (Tavistock) |
| Herbert, Dennis (Hertford, Watford) | Parker, James | Wills, Lt.-Col. Sir Gilbert Alan H. |
| Hilder, Lieut.-Colonel Frank | Pearce, Sir William | Wilson, Rt. Hon. J. W. (Stourbridge) |
| Hills, Major John Waller | Pease, Rt. Hon. Herbert Pike | Wilson, Col. M. J. (Richmond) |
| Hohier, Geraid Fitzroy | Percy, Lord Eustace (Hastings) | Windsor, Viscount |
| Hood, Sir Joseph | Perkins, Walter Frank | Wise, Frederick |
| Hope, Sir H. (Stirling &Cl'ckm'nn'n,W.) | Perring, William George | Wood, Hon. Edward F. L. (Ripon) |
| Hope, Lt.-Col. Sir J. A. (Midlothian) | Pickering, Colonel Emil W. | Wood, Sir H. K. (Woolwich, West) |
| Hopkins, John W. W. | Pollock, Rt. Hon. Sir Ernest Murray | Wood, Sir J. (Stalybridge & Hyde) |
| Hopkinson, A. (Lancaster, Mossley) | Pratt, John William | Wood. Major Sir S. Hill- (High Peak) |
| Horne, Sir R. S. (Glasgow, Hillhead) | Pretyman, Rt. Hon. Ernest G. | Worsfold. T. Cato |
| Hotchkin, Captain Stafford Vere | Purchase, H. G. | Yeo, Sir Alfred William |
| Houfton, John Plowright | Rae, Sir Henry N. | Young, Sir Frederick W. (Swindon) |
| Houston, Sir Robert Patterson | Randies, Sir John Scurrah | |
| Hunter. General Sir A. (Lancaster) | Rankin, Captain James Stuart | TELLERS FOR THE NOES.— |
| Hunter-Weston, Lt.-Gen. Sir Aylmer | Ratcliffe Henry Butler | Colonel Leslie Wilson and Mr. McCurdy. |