HC Deb 11 April 1921 vol 140 cc716-8
20. Viscount CURZON

asked the Minister of Transport how much was received from the taxation of commercial motor vehicles and how much from the taxation of private motor vehicles, respectively, during the first quarter of 1921?

Sir E. GEDDES

I would refer my Noble Friend to page 6 of Return No. 66 presented to the House on the 5th of April, a copy of which I am sending him. This Return gives the particulars asked for up to the 7th of March. A further sum of £706,960 6s. 5d. has been collected between that date and the 31st of March, but particulars of the amounts paid in respect of each class of vehicle for the latter period are not yet available.

24. Sir F. HALL

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that payment of the whole of the annual tax in one sum presses very hardly upon some of the taxicab driver owners; and whether he will therefore give instructions that the fourth quarterly instalment shall be charged as only the difference between the three-quarters which have been paid by the owner and the amount due to make up the sum that he would have to pay provided he made his payment at the beginning of the year in one lump sum?

Sir E. GEDDES

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 22nd of March in reply to a similar question by the hon. Member for St. Pancras, S.E. (Mr. J. W. Hopkins), of which I am sending him a copy.

Sir F. HALL

Was that reply sympathetic; is there any chance of it being done?

Sir E. GEDDES

If my hon. Friend will look at the answer and then put down any further question, I think he will see that I am very sympathetic with the taxicab drivers.

Sir FORTESCUE FLANNERY

May I ask if, in the case of vehicles that were built before 1913, it will in the future be necessary to pay the whole tax in advance, or whether the rebate may be deducted when paying for the licence?

Sir E. GEDDES

The arrangement for the first year had to be rather different, but in the case of every old vehicle, where a refund was claimed and obtained, a voucher has been given that one simply has to attach to the application.

Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKS

Has the right hon. Gentleman received a request from the Motor Legislation Committee to discuss with him this and other anomalies of the new scale, when the present pressure is over?

Sir E. GEDDES

The hon. Baronet told me, I think, that such a request was coming, but I must plead guilty to not having seen it myself.

Colonel NEWMAN

Will the right hon. Gentleman sympathetically consider a deputation from the taxicab drivers?

Sir E. GEDDES

I do not think I have been asked to receive a deputation.

Colonel NEWMAN

I have been requested to ask if you would?

Sir E. GEDDES

Certainly.