§ Commander BELLAIRSasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the Interim Reports on the Income Tax Bill of the Isle of Man by the House of Keys Committee; 992W whether he is aware that there is practically no direct taxation in the Isle of Man, as impossible conditions were attached to the Estates Duty Bill and the Land Tax Bill was thrown out; whether he is aware that the temptation to follow a similar course in regard to the Income Tax Bill arises from the increase of Customs Duties bringing in a revenue from the British Government's imports of tea, tobacco, beer, spirits, etc., for the enemy alien camps; and whether the Government will request that the revenue so collected be held in suspense while the whole question is examined impartially by an authority set up by the British Government?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWMy attention has not been drawn to the Reports in question. It is a fact that practically no direct taxation exists and that His Majesty's Government were not prepared to assent to the conditions attached to the Estates Duty Bill. The point raised in the third part of the Question is a matter of opinion upon which I am not prepared to express a definite view. The whole situation is being considered, but I cannot give an undertaking that the Government will adopt the suggestion in the last part.