§ Mr. LANE-FOXasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that of the 36,000 copies of Form IV. issued in Ireland more than half have not been even partially filled up, he will say what steps have been taken to enforce the penalty 1953W of £50 for non-compliance with such demands for information within thirty days, laid down in the Finance Act, 1910?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo case has yet arisen in which it has been considered necessary to take steps to enforce the penalty referred to.
§ Mr. NEWMANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is now in a position to give the numbers and total salaries of the valuers and their staffs in the fourteen principal districts into which Great Britain has been divided for the assessment and collection of Land Value Duties, as on the 31st October; and whether he can give an estimate of the additional cost of stationery, postage, and rent of offices?
Mr. McKINNON WOODThe numbers and total salaries of the Valuation Staff in England, Scotland, and Wales as on 31st October, 1911, were:—
— Numbers Salaries per annum. £ Valuers (permanent and temporary) 1,154 260,000 Technical Assistant (permanent and temporary) 18 2,880 Draughtsmen (temporary) 128 12,600 Clerks (temporary) 1,001 47,900 Total 2,301 323,380 It is not possible to give any close estimate of the cost of postage, but during the twelve months ended 30th September the cost did not amount to £22,000; this sum, which is above what will be the expenditure in future years and is estimated without deduction of Post Office profit, includes both the value of the postage stamps actually used and the postage value of the franked "official paid" envelopes supplied for land values purposes. The rent of valuers' offices on 31st October was approximately £13,500. The cost of stationery from 1st April to 31st October, 1911, was about £9,800.
§ Mr. CASSELasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total cost incurred in connection with the issue of and collection of returns to two forms, recently declared by judgments of the High Court of Justice to have been unauthorised, 1954W commonly known as Forms IV. and VIII.?
Mr. McKINNON WOODNo separate record has been kept of the cost incurred in connection with the particular forms, which have been the subject of judicial proceedings.