§ MR. B. S. STRAUS (Tower Hamlets, Mile End)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, owing to the crowds that now nightly visit places of entertainment all over the country, he will consider the desirability of taxing all entertainment tickets or taxing the capacity of the halls, theatres, and other places that are licensed for public amusement.
I beg also to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the desirability of altering the law as regards a penny stamp upon all receipts and making the stamp according to the amount for which the receipt is given, say, 1d. for every £50 or part thereof.
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. ASQUITH, Fifeshire, E.)Both the suggestions are familiar to me and I assure my hon. friend that, like all suggestions relating to taxation, they 811 will continue to receive my careful consideration.
§ MR. BOTTOMLEY (Hackney, S.)Having regard to the precisely similar undertaking which the right hon. Gentleman gave to me in reply to a precisely similar suggestion a week ago, can he say whether in pursuance of that undertaking he has taken any steps or proposes to take any steps, to acquaint himself with the amount of revenues derived by France, Germany, and other enlightened countries from these sources?
§ MR. ASQUITHI hope I shall neglect no relevant source of information.