§ 58. Captain GARRO-JONESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether, in view of the fact that the receipts from Railway Passenger Duty, 1924–25, amounted to only £427,000, whereas the duty is between 2 per cent. 285 and 5 per cent. of the passenger receipts which exceed minimum fares, he can make a statement explanatory of the apparently low yield of this tax?
Mr. GUINNESSThe exemption from Railway Passenger Duty of fares not exceeding minimum fares relieves from the duty approximately 90 per cent. of the total passenger receipts. The duty amounting to £427,000 received in 1924–25 was charged upon a total amount of £9,143,000 actually liable to duty, and the figure of £427,000 represents an average percentage of 4⅔ on that amount
§ Captain GARRO-JONESIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied that no attempt is being made to evade the intentions of the Legislature when this duty was imposed?
Mr. GUINNESSI do not know what may have been the intention of the Legislature, but the regulations have been fully complied with.