§ 54. Sir A. HOLBROOKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that a manufacturing firm of West Bromwich, who had a claim for £1,100 for goods supplied to a firm in India, has been condemned by the High Court to pay £660 excess profits to the Government, although the transaction was a dead loss, the Indian firm having failed to pay one penny to the manufacturer referred to; and whether he will consider in the circumstances whether the claim for excess profits should be pressed?
Mr. GUINNESSIt was decided on appeal that this debt was not a bad debt at the close of the Excess Profits Duty period, and that consequently, the amount could not he regarded as a loss arising during that period In these circumstances I can see no ground on which the statutory charge of duty, which is based that decision, can be waived.