§ 24. Colonel YATEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will request the county and borough councils in England to follow the practice of the Board of Customs and Excise in Scotland in the collection of Motor Licence Duties, etc., by calling the attention of licence holders to the necessity of renewing their licences, and giving all necessary information as to places where licences can be obtained, before proceeding to levy the payment of a mitigated penalty under threat of prosecution in Court from those persons who have inadvertently omitted to renew their licences during the month of January?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEI fear I can only repeat what I stated in reply to the hon. and gallant Member on the 14th instant, that the collection of Motor Licence Duties, etc., is entirely a matter within the discretion of the various counties and county boroughs concerned.
§ Colonel YATEDoes the right hon. Gentleman think it is right that the officials of the county councils should have the power of levying blackmail in this matter?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEWhat the hon. Member suggests is a very serious charge against the officials of the county councils, and I cannot assume that without sonic evidence of it.
§ Colonel YATEDoes the right hon. Gentleman not think it is a very serious matter to call upon men to pay at their own sweet will, without giving notice that there is some dispute?
§ LLOYD GEORGEI cannot assume that they are doing anything irregular unless I have some proof of it.
§ Colonel YATEWill the right hon Gentleman look at the rules to see whether they are irregular or not, and if they are irregular, will he have them made regular?
§ Mr. LLOYD GEORGEThat is a very different charge to that which the hon. and gallant Member brought against the officials that they were levying blackmail.