§ 44. Mr. NEIL MACLEANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that cinema houses in the Kelvin-grove district of Glasgow have closed down within the past six months owing to the entertainments duty upon seats under sixpence; and whether he is prepared to reconsider the alteration of the tax upon the lower-priced seats?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI have no information as to the closing down of the particular houses referred to in the first part of the question. With regard to the second part, the answer is in the negative.
§ Mr. MACLEANIf the right hon. Gentleman will make inquiries in this and in other parts of the country he will find that, owing to this tax, many cinema houses are being closed down. Therefore, will he take into consideration the removal of this tax on the lower price seats, especially in those houses which are situated in working-class districts?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat is more a question for the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. MACLEANThe Chancellor of the Echequer has already intimated that he proposes to make certain remissions of duty, and I am asking whether he will make a remission in this case.
§ Mr. McGOVERNIn view of the accumulated evidence of the effect of this tax on the lower price seats, would it not be desirable to remit a portion of it, and, if necessary, increase it in other directions?
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat, again, is a question for consideration on the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. KIRKW00DSeeing that the right hon. Gentleman is giving concession to certain powerful influences in this House, surely he can make this concession to the poorest of the poor. We never get any concessions.