§ Mr. NIELDasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the resolution passed and repeatedly reaffirmed by the Association of Chambers of Commerce, stating that, while welcoming the Report of Sir Charles Dilke's Committee as tending to more equitably adjust the burden of Income Tax, the Association regrets that no steps have been taken to carry out the suggestions made by the Departmental Committee in 1904, with a view to affording the commercial community some allowance for the depreciation on buildings that takes place from year to year, and trusts that steps will be taken to provide for a more adequate allowance for depreciation on plant and machinery, the same to be a uniform rate for each particular trade throughout the Kingdom; and whether he has taken, or contemplates taking, any, and what, action thereon.
§ Mr. LLOYD-GEORGEI am aware of the resolution in question. I may point out to the hon. Member that so far as depreciation of plant and machinery is concerned there is no restriction in the sum the District Commissioners of Taxes may, in their discretion, allow, but I do not think it would be either feasible or desirable to adopt uniform rates for each710W particular trade, owing to the variety of machinery and plant in use, and the diver gent circumstances in which it is used do not propose to take any action in the matter at present.