Mr. F. HALLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total net annual income from land covered and uncovered in Great Britain and Ireland; the total amount raised annually by local rates, and the total of the annual grants made from the Imperial Exchequer to local rates; and what is the sum at present invested in land and mortgages by friendly societies, building societies, and trade unions?
777W
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEAs regards the first part of the question, the only official information at my disposal is that relating to annual value for the purposes of Income Tax, Schedule A, given at page 101 and following of the 56th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. As regards the second part of the question, the returns for England and Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, respectively, are not compiled upon the same basis; but if the amounts given in the return are added together, the approximate totals for 1911–12 are:—(1) Aggregate amount raised by local rates, £77,000,000; (2) Exchequer subventions, £27,000,000. The particulars in regard to the last part of the question are as follows:—At the latest date to which information is available, 31st December, 1910, friendly societies (including branches of friendly societies and collecting societies) had £33,028,019 invested in land, buildings and mortgages. In building societies the balance due upon mortgage security in 1912 amounted to £60,891,410. In registered trade unions the investments in land, buildings and mortgages, at 31st December, 1912, amounted to £1,122,000.