§ 53. Sir LEONARD LYLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost to the State of the Land Valuation 614 Department during the years it was kept on after the actual tax collection was dropped?
§ Mr. WILLIAM GRAHAMThe cost of the Land Valuation Office charged to the Valuation Office Sub-heads of the Inland Revenue Vote for the years 1920–21 to 1923–24 is as follows:
£ 1920–21 … 541,964 1921–22 … 503,075 1922–23 … 388,515 1923–24 (approximate) … 359,000
§ Mr. MASTERMANHas any tax answering to that description ever been imposed by the Land Valuation Department in connection with the collection of revenue?
§ Mr. FOOTCan the Financial Secretary say what was the increased amount gathered through the correct valuation of estates, and whether, in view of that increase, there was any cost at all?
§ Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLEIs it not a fact that, in spite of the enormous sum spent on the valuation, only one-tenth of the valuations of the country were ever made?
§ Sir L. LYLEIn view of this brilliant example of how not to do things, will the Government immediately drop any idea of continuing this Department?
§ Mr. SPEAKERSome of the supplementary questions are matters for Debate; the others involve figures, and ought to be put down on the Paper.
Sir F. HALLIs it not a fact that the hon. Gentleman has already given figures amounting to £1,500,000 that has been expended since the tax was dropped, and, considering that enormous expenditure, do the Government think it is advisable to again go into this question.
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is merely a request for information.