HC Deb 19 April 1939 vol 346 cc363-5W
Mr. White

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers in occupation of agricultural land in the latest

Mr. Burgin

Yes, Sir. The volume of traffic to be relieved and the cost are two of the factors considered in approving schemes for by-passes.

Particulars of the traffic taken in August, 1938, at points on the roads to be by-passed, to which the hon. Member refers, were as follows:

financial year elected to pay Income Tax on the basis of Schedule B, and how many elected to pay Income Tax on the basis of net profits; whether any deductions are allowed when rental is the basis of Income Tax assessment; and how many taxpayers in the last five years have exercised their option of change, respectively, from the Schedule B basis to that of net profits, and from the net profits basis to that of Schedule B?

Sir J. Simon

I regret that the statistics collected do not enable the information asked for in the first and last parts of the question to be given. As regards the second part of the question, where a farmer is assessed under Schedule B on the basis of rental value, no deduction for expenses is allowable, but it is open to him to claim to have the assessment reduced to the amount of the actual profits of the year if they are less than the amount of the Schedule B assessment.