§ Mr. CLOUGHasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the Excess Profits Duty is paid by individuals or firms making between £2,000 and £4,000 profit; and if he will add the exact percentage of this sum as compared with the entire amount levied in the last financial year under the operation of this tax?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy hon. Friend will appreciate that precise information of this character in regard to Excess Profits Duty or any other tax can only be obtained at very great expenditure of time and labour, and I am precluded by the necessities of the time from authorising the diversion of the energies of the staff to this work at the expense of their normal and more pressing functions.