§ Mr. MACKINDERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an analysis of the gross assessments to Income Tax, Schedule D, in the years 1913–14 and 1919–20, as far as possible into heads corresponding with those shown in Table 69 of the 165th Income
— 1913–14. 1919–20. £ £ Railways in the United Kingdom 45,700,968 54,958,532 Employments assessed annually 31,190,178 68,995,906 Employments assessed quarterly, i.e., manual wage-earners (not assessed separately) 863,815,869 Interest on War Securities, not taxed by deduction at the source, Deposit and other interest 14,430,101 84,682,444 All other assessments 579,312,297 988,739,086 Total gross income, Schedule D £670,633,544 £2,061,191,837 It will be appreciated that for various reasons arising out of War conditions, e.g., the lowering of the exemption limit from £160 to £130, the imposition of the Excess Profits Duty, etc., the figures for these two years are not properly comparable.
§ Mr. TOOLEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that His Majesty's Income Tax Commissioners at present assess the incoming tenants of refreshment houses upon the profits returned by the outgoing tenant on the three years' average; and whether he will make arrangements for the elimination of this system and consent to a new assessment of the new tenant?
§ Mr. SNOWDENUnder the provisions of the Income Tax Acts, which are of general application, the assessment upon a business is computed on the ordinary1656W Tax Report, namely, manufacturing, productive and mining industries; distribution, transport, and communication, railways in the United Kingdom and other assessments; finance, professions and other profits; employments assessed annually; employments assessed quarterly; interest on war securities not taxed at source and other interests; and Dominion and foreign securities and possessions?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI regret that, owing to changes in the method of compilation of the Income Tax statistics, introduced for the first time in 1920–21, I am unable to give a complete analysis similar to that contained in the 165th Inland Revenue Report of the gross income assessed under Schedule D in 1913–14 and 1919–20. The following figures are, however, available for the two years named:
three year's average basis, notwithstanding a change in the proprietorship. Relief can, however, be claimed where it is proved that the profits of a business have fallen short from some specific cause since the change or succession took place, or by reason thereof; in this connection I would refer my hon. Friend to Rule 11 of the Rules applicable to Cases I and II of Schedule D of the Income Tax Act, 1918.