§ 24. Captain DOWERasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many officials are still engaged in registering transfers on the sale of land, granting of leases, and transfer of sale of leases as required under Section 28 of the Finance Act, 1931, land values tax; and how much this has cost the Exchequer to date?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAThe number of officials employed is 32. The cost to the Exchequer to date is approximately £12,000.
§ Captain DOWERAs the Department was formed for the purpose of compiling a register upon which land taxes would be charged, and since those taxes have been indefinitely postponed, can my hon. Friend inform the House what this Department's additional indispensability is that prevents us from stopping this wasteful expenditure of public money?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAI think that my hon. Friend knows, as he has participated in the discussions, that this 570 question has been debated in the House. In his question he only asks for certain figures, and I have given them. He cannot expect me to go further now.
§ Captain DOWERWill my hon. Friend give me that information if I table a further question?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHACertainly, I will give my hon. Friend any information that I can.