§ 80 and 81. Mr. HARDIE (for Mr. JOHNSTON)asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether any and, if so, which part of the Civil List charges payable to or on behalf of Their Majesties' privy purse, salaries, retired allowances and expenses of His Majesty's household or Royal Bounty and Alms is paid subject to deduction of Income Tax or Super-tax;
(2) whether, in view of the fact that the Royal annuities and pensions charged on the Consolidated Fund are relieved of any payment of Income Tax or Super-tax, steps can be taken to have the annuities and pensions in future paid subject to the same taxes as are the incomes of other citizens?
§ Mr. MAXTONOn a point of Order, Mr. Speaker. It is a most extraordinary thing, that these two questions have been called and there is no Minister present to give an answer.
§ Mr. SPEAKERIf the hon. Member in whose name the Question stands is not here to put the Question on the first round, there is no obligation on the Minister to wait.
§ Mr. MAXTONIf the Minister is in the precincts of the House, surely as a matter of courtesy he might reply.
§ Mr. McNEILL (who at this juncture re-entered the House)With regard to the Civil List charges in respect of Their Majesties' Privy Purse and expenses of His Majesty's Household, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in this House on 22nd July, 1910, by the than Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Debate on the Civil List. Payments in respect of Royal Bounty and Alms are as a rule capital payments not liable to Income Tax or Super-tax. Salaries of His Majesty's household and retired allowances are liable to Income Tax and Super-tax in the usual manner. The annuities to the Royal Family charged on the Consolidated Fund are similarly liable subject to any general or particular statutory reliefs, and I see no occasion to take any steps to alter the present arrangements which, as I have indicated, are governed by Statute.