§ 53. Colonel Sir H. NORRISasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total sum received by the Government from the various football clubs in the United Kingdom by way of entertainment tax since the 1st day of September, 1919; whether such sum has been collected by the clubs from the public and paid over without any cost to the Government; whether he is aware that the collection and subsequent preparation of accounts entail considerable additional clerical labour on the clubs; and Whether, having regard to the circumstances and the large amount of revenue received, he will favourably consider whether some small percentage, say 2½ per cent., can be allowed to the clubs to cover the, additional expenses to which they are put in collecting and remitting the, tax and preparation of accounts?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI regret that the figures requested in the first part of the Question are not available. I see no reason to depart from the invariable rule that no payments of commission should be made in connection with the collection of Excise revenue.