§ 61. Lieut. - Colonel HODGEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can see his way to dispense with the necessity for revenue stamping all documents now required to be stamped by entrants into certain of the professions, such as the £80 stamp now required to be affixed on articles of clerkship entered into with a solicitor, etc.?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am not able to entertain the suggestion made by the hon. Member.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HODGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the necessity for paying these stamps and similar duties acts as a direct Government penalty on the sons of poor parents?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI am afraid that all taxation is a hardship in some cases, but there has been, I understand, hardly any demand at all for either the reduction or the abolition of this tax.
§ Lieut.-Colonel HODGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that that taxation is at the worst part of a man's career, at the very outset, and that—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThe hon. and gallant Member is making a speech.