§ 10. Mr. WALLHEADasked the Under-Secretary of State for India what is the nature and incidence of taxation per head on the urban labourer and on the landless agricultural labourer in India at the present day as compared with a decade ago?
§ Earl WINTERTONI would refer the hon. Member to the details given on pages 342 and 344 of the Taxation Inquiry Committee's Report on which comparisons are given for the two classes mentioned on the basis of averages for the periods 1911–14 and 1922–25 respectively. The burden of taxation has since been somewhat reduced by the abolition of the Cotton Excise Duty. In putting forward the statistics the Committee indicate the difficulties in making a reliable estimate, and the figures must be viewed in the light of their observations.