71. Sir J. WALTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the taxing of the coal consumers of the country by the imposition of an extra charge of 2s. 6d. per ton for coal in June of last year by the Coal Controller is in violation of the undertaking of His Majesty's Government in the Coal Control Bill that no charge should be placed upon the taxpayers in connection with that measure unless a financial Resolution were introduced in the House of Commons and a Bill passed authorising it; whether he is aware that this evasion brought nearly £20,000,000 additional Excess Profits Duty into the national Treasury; and whether this is a constitutional method of taxation.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI cannot agree that the additional charge of 2s. 6d. violated any pledge given by the Government.
Sir J. WALTONMay I ask if instead of 2s. 6d. the Coal Controller imposed 10s. bringing in £80,000,000 additional excess profits to the Treasury, if that would be a constitutional method of taxation?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is a hypothetical question.