HC Deb 07 March 1831 vol 3 cc113-5

Lord Granville Somerset, in presenting a Petition from a place in Monmouthshire, for the Repeal of the Assessed Taxes, begged to ask the noble Lord, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether it was his intention to propose the reduction or repeal of the class of taxes alluded to by the petitioners, during the present Session?

Lord Althorp

was perfectly aware of the severity with which the Assessed Taxes and many others pressed on the people; but he was not able to hold out any expectation of any further reduction of taxation at present. The taxes which he had already proposed to reduce were those the reduction of which his Majesty's Government thought would be most for the benefit of the people, and he could not at present hold out any expectation of further reductions.

An hon. Member said, he would take the liberty of suggesting to the noble Lord a method by which he might reduce a portion at least of the assessed taxes, which pressed so severely upon the industrious classes. The whole number of householders paying the house-duty amounted to 380,000. Of that number 120,000 paid only the lowest rate of duty, and from their payments a sum of only 100,000l. went into the Exchequer. Now 100,000l. was the sum which the noble Lord proposed to give up, by reducing the tax on newspapers. The whole amount of stamp-duty which he calculated upon giving up was 180,000l.; but then he reckoned upon a gain of 80,000l., in consequence of the increased consumption which he expected from the reduction. 100,000l. therefore, was the sum proposed to be given up by reducing the news-paper duty, which did not appear to afford great satisfaction to any class. Even the newspaper proprietors were not at all grateful for it, and the reduction was not called for. By allowing the duty on newspapers to continue as at present, the noble Lord would be enabled to relieve 120,000 householders from the house-duty.

Mr. Charles Buller

could not at all agree with the hon. Member who spoke last, that the reduction of the newspaper-duty would not afford satisfaction, and be productive of great public benefit. It might be very true that the proposed reduction was not grateful to the great newspaper proprietors, as taking off the tax was, in point of fact, breaking in upon their monopoly; but the great body of the people felt that the tax on newspapers was one of the worst description of taxes —a tax upon knowledge. He (Mr. Buller) was so impressed with the necessity of repealing the tax, that when the question came before the House, he should take the liberty of proposing that the duty on newspapers should be reduced to one half-penny.

Colonel Sibthorp

regretted to hear from the Chancellor of the Exchequer, that no farther reduction of taxation was proposed. He believed if an angel came down from Heaven, and became Chancellor of the Exchequer, he could not please every one; but he did hope that the noble Lord would reconsider this subject, and endeavour to give some relief to the people, who were labouring under those most partial, unjust, and obnoxious taxes, the House and Window Taxes.

An hon. Member asked the noble Lord at what time he intended the proposed reduction of the duty on newspapers should take place.

Lord Althorp

replied, that it was his intention to bring in a bill for the consolidation of the Stamp Duties. That bill would take a considerable time in passing through the House; and as it would comprehend the measure for reducing the stamp duty on newspapers, he did not in-tend that the reduction should take place before the 5th of July.

Lord G. Somerset, in moving that the petition be printed, took an opportunity of asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he had made up his mind with respect to the stock of coals on hand, and which had already paid duty. If the duty was not returned, the merchants who had large stocks on hand would be sufferers to a great amount.

Lord Althorp

replied, that it had been his intention, as he had before stated, to defer the reduction of the duty on coals shipped coastwise for three months. In carrying this determination, however, into effect, he had found, as in many other cases, various difficulties arising. As to the suggestion to return the duty paid on the stock in hand, that could not be complied with. He still hoped, however, that some delay would answer the purpose, and prevent those who had large stocks from being sufferers to any great extent.

Petition to be printed.