Colonel BURNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the possibility that the discussion now proceeding as to a levy on war gains and the reference of the matter to a Select Committee of the House may induce potential taxpayers to attempt to conceal or distribute their wealth, and that the institution of new business enterprises may be hampered by the fear of this new taxation falling upon them; and whether he proposes to take any steps to deal with these matters?
56W
Mr. CHAMBERLAINIf a duty be imposed upon war-time increases of wealth I should propose that the amount of the duty should be computed as at a date which is now past, and by reference to the circumstances then existing. Devices of the kind alluded to by my hon. and gallant Friend would be ineffectual to circumvent a duty so constructed, while, on the other hand, increases of wealth now arising would be entirely outside its scope. There is, therefore, no reason why the possibility of such a tax being imposed at some future date should interfere with the free development of business enterprise at the present time.