§ 55. Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Treasury insist upon independent valuations of house property made under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, being enforced; and under what statutory authority does he act when fixing an annual value, which is different to that in the independent valuation?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINValuations of property under Section 138 of the Income Tax Act, 1918, take place only where, on an appeal against an assessment under Schedule A or Schedule B, the General Commissioners direct such a valuation to be made, either if they consider it necessary, or if the appellant so requires. The determination of the appeal is a matter for the General Commissioners, subject to the right of either the appellant or the Inland Revenue to demand the statement of a case for the opinion of the High Court on a point of law, and the Treasury has no authority to take any action in the matter. The second part of the question, therefore, does not arise.
§ Mr. CRAVEN-ELLISDoes the right hon. Gentleman consider it fair that 1527 house property which is occupied by an owner is assessed at £24 and that when the same house comes to be occupied by a tenant it is assessed at £55, and in a case which I can give the right hon. Gentleman it became occupied by another occupier and the assessment went back to £24?