§ 42. Mr. MARDY JONESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will furnish particulars of the gross assessment to Income Tax for the year ending the 5th April, 1924, separately for the 13 counties of Wales including Monmouthshire, under Schedules A and B, indicating lands, houses, and other property, each separately?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Churchill)I regret that this information is not available, as statistics of the Income Tax relating to separate counties are no longer collected.
§ Mr. JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the people in the Principality of Wales are anxious to know exactly what they contribute as a nation?
2277 We have our own reasons for asking this question, and I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to reconsider it.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESIs it not a fact that these particulars were given in returns prior to the War?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI think that is perfectly true, but owing to a general desire for economy a number of returns have been, after careful consideration, I believe, with the aid of a Committee of this House, suppressed.
§ Mr. JONESI wish to press the Chancellor of the Exchequer in this matter, because in Wales we attach great importance to it. [HON. MEMBERS: "Speech!"]
43. The hon. Member also asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the annual value of the properties and profits or gross income assessed to Income Tax in the years ending 5th April, 1913, 5th April, 1914, 5th April, 1923, 5th April, 1924, and 5th April, 1925, respectively, for Scotland, England, excluding Monmouthshire, and Wales, including Monmouthshire, showing separately the amounts under each of the five schedules, as stated in the Return presented by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 6th May, 1913?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLWith the hon. Member's permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table giving the desired particulars for England, Wales and Scotland separately for the years
| Year. | Schedule. | Gross Income brought under review in— | |||||
| England (excluding Monmouthshire). | Wales (including Monmouthshire). | Scotland. | |||||
| £ | £ | £ | |||||
| 1912–13 | … | … | Schedule A | … | 225,352,914 | 11,958,171 | 27,164,397 |
| Schedule B | … | 11,179,019 | 1,110,149 | 1,912,842 | |||
| Schedule C | … | 49,473,242 | — | — | |||
| Schedule D | … | 533,756,606 | 17,382,103 | 60,408,996 | |||
| Schedule E | … | 116,611,580 | 3,269,653 | 10,397,809 | |||
| Total | … | 936,373,361 | 33,720,076 | 99,884,044 | |||
| 1913–14 | … | … | Schedule A | … | 227,592,129 | 12,164,660 | 27,385,157 |
| Schedule B | … | 11,242,909 | 1,111,213 | 1,912,120 | |||
| Schedule C | … | 50,334,234 | — | — | |||
| Schedule D | … | 569,902,688 | 18,497,721 | 64,529,608 | |||
| Schedule E | … | 125,191,648 | 3,672,415 | 11,100,140 | |||
| Total | … | 984,263,608 | 35,446,009 | 104,927,025 |
§ 1912–13 and 1913–14. I am unable to furnish similar details for the post-War years, as the present statistics of the Income Tax do not distinguish Wales separately from England; but the hon. Member will find in the 67th and 68th Reports of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue details for England and Wales taken together, and for Scotland for the years ended 5th April, 1923 and 1924.
§ Mr. MORGAN JONESCan the right hon. Gentleman say why Wales is treated differently in this matter from Scotland?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAll this is evidently the result of decisions which have been taken since the War and with which decisions I am sure the House of Commons, in one form or another, have been associated. Of course, if there was a general desire to reopen the topic on the part of a number of hon. Members, naturally it would be our desire to consider that wish.
§ Mr. MARDY JONESThere is no evidence that there would be additional cost. Is it not a fact that Wales has contributed more than its fair share of taxation?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAs these matters are veiled at present in the mystery of a joint return, I am unable to say whether that is so, but I think it is very unlikely.
§ Following is the table promised: