§ MR. LEAKE (Lancashire, S.E., Radcliffe)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, Whether it is the intention of the Government to give the House an opportunity of expressing its opinion on the proposed Wheel and Van Tax before discussing the application of the proceeds 728 of the tax under Clause 30 of the Local Government Bill; and, whether, if the assent of Parliament is obtained to the Wheel and Van Tax, the Government will recommend the application of the proceeds, together with those of the Horse Tax, to the maintenance and repair of main roads in the counties and the boroughs named in the Fourth Schedule of the Local Government Bill?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)I do not think my right hon. Friend (Mr. Ritchie) would be willing to suspend progress on the Local Government Bill in order to discuss the Excise Duties (Local Purposes) Bill. The Wheel and Van Tax, as I must remind the hon. Member, is only a part of the proposals for the relief of the rates contained in the Excise Duties (Local Purposes) Bill. The Bill also proposes a duty upon horses, and is a measure in which some £800,000 of the ratepayers' money is involved. With regard to the application of the Cart and Horse Taxes, the views of the Government are contained in the Amendment which my right hon. Friend has put on the Paper. If that Amendment is adopted the produce of these taxes, within any existing county, will be divided according to rateable value between the scheduled boroughs within that county and the rest of the county.