§ Mr. JAMESONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the evidence given to the Income Tax Commission by the Board of Inland Revenue and by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce to the effect that additional Super-tax, to the amount of between £20,000,000 and £30,000,000 sterling per annum, should now be imposed; whether Sir Algernon Firth, Baronet, gave evidence on behalf of the Chambers to the effect that the commercial community represented by the Chambers was prepared to shoulder such a burden if need be; and whether he will introduce, legislation embodying such 1922W taxation in an Autumn Budget in view of the necessarily continued military expenditure?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe Royal Commission on the Income Tax has been hearing evidence (inter alia) on the graduation of the Income Tax and various possible changes in the character and extent of the graduation have been presented for the consideration of the Commission. Whether or not an increase in the rates of Income Tax or Super-tax may be found necessary is a matter on which the Commission is obviously not yet in a position to make any suggestions, and I am unable to adopt the course proposed by my hon. Friend.