HC Deb 25 February 1903 vol 118 cc800-2
MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON (Dundee)

I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the reduction in the number of publicans' licences; whether he has considered its effect on increasing the value of the remaining licences; and whether in framing the next Budget he will consider the possibility of increasing the duty payable on publicans' licences generally.

*THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. RITCHIE,) Croydon

It is not usual for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make a statement prior to the Budget as to the manner in which he is to deal with taxation. I may say, however, that, as the hon. and learned Gentleman is no doubt aware, the duties on publicans' licences are assigned to local authorities. It appears to me that, if the hon. and learned Gentleman is correct in assuming that reduction of public houses increases the value of the houses that remain, the question would certainly arise as to whether, if any increase in the licence duty were imposed on the remaining houses, the proceeds should not be applied to purposes connected with the reduction of licences.

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON asked whether the right hon. Gentleman had considered the question of the excess or monopoly value created in the licences by the low rate of duty.

*MR. RITCHIE

In regard to that, the first part of my answer equally applies. These duties are duties which do not concern the Imperial Exchequer, but are allocated to the local authorities for the purpose of local—

MR. EDMUND ROBERTSON

Do I understand you to say that any additional duty on licences which Parliament may impose must necessarily go to the local authorities?

*MR. RITCHIE

I do not say that that necessarily is so; but it would be extremely difficult to say that one portion of the licence duty should go to local authorities and another to Imperial.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER (Kent, Thanet)

Does the right hon. Gentleman contemplate legislation on this point?

COLONEL NOLAN

I wish to know if the statement is true that the licence duties go to the local authorities in England, why the statement is not true in Ireland.

*MR. RITCHIE

That is so in England—

COLONEL NOLAN

Will he make it so in Ireland?

*MR. RITCHIE

Under the Local Government Act of 1888, and in Ireland under the Act of 1898. In regard to my right hon. friend's (Mr. Lowther) inquiry, I cannot undertake to make any promise in regard to legislation.

MR. JAMES LOWTHER

Is it not the ease that these taxes are collected by the Imperial authorities, and made over to the local authorities?

*MR. RITCHIE

That is so; they are collected in the ordinary way and made over to the local authorities.