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Public Burdens (Realty And Personalty)

Volume 46: debated on Monday 6 January 1913

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57.

asked whether the total amount of public burdens, including local rates borne by real property in Great Britain, is now more than three times the amount borne by personalty; and, if not, what is, approximately, the proportion borne by each class of property?

I do not think that any satisfactory basis of a division of public burdens between those borne by real property and by personalty, respectively, has ever been arrived at. I may perhaps refer the hon. Member to the memorandum presented by the late Sir Edward Hamilton to the Royal Commission on local taxation in which the difficulties of making a satisfactory apportionment are explained.

Would it not be possible to have the Returns made out in such a way as to indicate clearly what portion of the public revenue came from the two sources, respectively?

It is almost impossible. I think if the hon. Gentleman were to try and draft a Return of that kind, he would realise the impracticability of the matter