§ 82. Colonel WEDGWOODasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies whether any reports are received at the Colonial Office as to the working of the Iraq administration; and, in particular, whether he can find out if any change has been made in the method of collecting tithe in that country, especially in, date-bearing lands?
§ The SECRETARY of STATE for the COLONIES (Mr. Amery)Yes, Sir. Such reports are received periodically in the Colonial Office and form the basis of the Annual Report by His Britannic Majesty's Government to the Council of the League of Nations on the administration of Iraq. This report is published by the Stationery Office. So far as I am aware no change has been made in the method of collecting tithe in Iraq, but inquiry has been made of the High Commissioner and I will acquaint the hon. and gallant Member with the result in due course. The Iraq Government have for some time had under consideration the question of the desirability of changing the present system of assessment and collection of land taxation, and they are at present endeavouring to secure the services of a revenue expert to examine and advise upon this question. The defects of the present system are discussed at some length in Section III of the Report on Iraq for the period April, 1923 to December, 1924 (Colonial No. 13)