§ 49 and 50. Mr. TAYLORasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) to state, 1022 for the latest convenient date, the number of farmers in England and Wales paying Income Tax on the basis of profits, together with the amount of Income Tax paid on such basis;
(2) the number of farmers in England and Wales paying Income Tax on rent, together with the amount of Income Tax paid on such basis?
§ 52. Mr. WALLHEADasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of farmers, owners, or occupiers of agricultural land who paid Income Tax on assessment based on rent; what was the total number who paid Income Tax on actual income assessment; and what was the aggregate total income assessed under each heading for the years 1912–13, 1917–18, 1918–19, 1919–20, 1920–21, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1924–25, 1925–26?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe conventional basis of assessment of farming profits to Income Tax, Schedule B, has varied from time to time during the years named. For 1912–13 the profits were assumed to be one-third of the annual value of the lands occupied; for 1917–18 they were assumed to be equal to the annual value; for 1918–19 to 1921–22, twice the annual value; and from 1922–23 onwards, equal to the annual value. The hon. Members will find particulars of the gross income and actual income assessed under Schedule B for the post-War years on page 79 of the 69th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Command Paper 2783); and for the pre-War year 1912–13, in relation to certain post-War years, on page 75 of the 66th Report (Command Paper 1934). No information is available as to the number of persons assessed. As regards assessments on the actual profits of farmers who elected to be asessed under the rules of Schedule D, the only information available is that given on page 84 of the 66th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue, which gives particulars of numbers and profits assessed for years down to 1919–20. No similar statistics have been collected for subsequent years.
§ Mr. TAYLORIf the reports to which the right hon. Gentleman refers me do not give the information necessary to differentiate between those paying ing on rents and those paying on the basis 1023 of profits, will he undertake to get that information, in view of its importance in the consideration of the position of agriculture?
§ Mr. McNEILLI am afraid that I cannot undertake to obtain it. I am not sure that it is procurable. I think, if it were procurable, it would be in the reports.