§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health whether he can make a statement as to the decision of the Government on the proposals of the Inter-Departmental Committee on the Hating of Machinery?
§ Sir K. WOODThe Report is under consideration, but my right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make any statement in regard to it.
§ Mr. WILLIAMSasked the Minister of Health the present assessable value of dwelling-houses, of factories, and of other forms of property; and what is the estimated value of machinery which would be assessed if the proposals in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee were to be adopted?
§ Mr. N. CHAMBERLAINThe total assessable value for the purposes of the2104W with estimates of the corresponding amounts for the years 1923–24 and 1924–25, and distinguishes the sources from which the expenditure was met and the amounts met from each source:
Agricultural Rates Act, 1923, of all properties in England and Wales was, according to the valuation lists in force at the beginning of April last, £241,975,264. The amounts included in this total in respect of dwelling-houses, of factories, and of other forms of property, taken separately, have not been ascertained, nor is there available any estimate, for the country as a whole, of the value of machinery which would be assessed if the proposals in the Report of the Inter-Departmental Committee were to be adopted.