§ 46. Mr. OAKLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of bookmakers and entry certificates taken out by the end of March, 1928, and the corresponding period in 1927?
Mr. SAMUELThe numbers of bookmakers' and entry certificates issued up to the 31st March, 1927, and 1928, for the years 1926–27 and 1927–28 were:
| 1926–27. | 1927–28. | |
| Bookmakers' Certificates | 12,851 | 12,268 |
| Entry Certificates | 7,861 | 7,083 |
§ 47. Mr. OAKLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the yield of the Betting Duty for March and April, 1928?
Mr. SAMUELThe approximate amounts derived from betting taxation in the months of March and April, 1928, were £125,300 and £203,500, respectively.
§ Sir WALTER de FRECEIs that after accounting for the expenses of collection?
§ Mr. DAYCan the hon. Gentleman say whether any negotiations are now taking place to have this duty reduced?
§ 49. Mr. WOMERSLEYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the cost of the collection of the Betting Duty for the last financial year?
Mr. SAMUELIt is not possible to apportion the separate cost of collecting 836 any particular Customs or Excise Duty, but there is no reason to suppose that the estimate of the annual cost of collecting the Betting Duty, namely, £150,000, furnished to the Select Committee in 1923, was exceeded in the last financial year.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it a fact that, if the collection of the Betting Duty is going to be more efficient in the future than it has been in the past, more money will have to be spent and more people will have to be put on to watch it?