§ Finally, I come to the Entertainments Duty. While I am no more enamoured of this tax than in the past, I feel that in the present circumstances it is a ready instrument for affording all sections of the community an opportunity to make a contribution to our needs. I fear that I must call upon the occupants of the cheaper seats, who have enjoyed freedom from the tax since I repealed that part of it in 1924, to join in this contribution. I am proposing a new scale in that duty which will represent a uniform rate of 16⅔ per cent. on the inclusive prices of admission or 20 per cent. on the exclusive prices. The duty will rise by halfpenny stages on inclusive prices of admission up to 1s. 3d. that is a 3d. admission charge will represent 2½d. admission with ½d. tax; a 6d. charge 5d. for admission and a 1d. tax; and a 1s. charge 10d. and 2d. Above the inclusive price of 1s. 6d. the tax will increase by stages of 1d. on every 5d.; that is to say out of every 6d. admission a charge of 5d. goes to the proprietor and 1d. to the Revenue. I think this uniformity in the scale will be found to be a very great convenience to the proprietors. I may add that with the re-imposition of the tax on seats of 6d. and under, I propose to re-enact the exemption in favour of entertainments for children at charges not exceeding 2d. The alteration in the scale of the Entertainments Duty should bring in £2,500,000 in a full year, and £1,000,000 in the present year. In order to admit of the necessary administrative preparations, this tax cannot become operative until 9th November.
§ I am now in a position to add up the expected yield of the various Customs and Excise duties. I expect them to yield this year £11,500,000, and next year £24,000,000.