HC Deb 11 May 1933 vol 277 cc1690-1
33 and 34. Colonel ROPNER

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that the proposed tax on fuel oil will result in an increase of from 6 per cent. to 8 per cent. in the manufacturing cost of glass which, for technical reasons, cannot be made by using coal; and whether he will give an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of allowing this industry to obtain tax-free supplies of oil;

(2) whether he is aware that the proposed tax on fuel oil would add from 33 per cent. to over 50 per cent. to the fuel bill of coastal ships; and whether he will give an estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of exempting from the proposed tax all fuel consumed by coastal shipping which already has to meet the competition of road and rail transport?

35. Mr. KIRKWOOD

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that orders for motor ships by Scottish firms have been cancelled at Ardrossan and Leith because of the tax of 1d. per gallon on heavy nil, which will increase the cost of operating motor ships by 33 per cent.; and will he give an estimate of the cost of exempting shipbuilding and engineering from this tax, in view of its injurious effect on trade and employment?

38. Mr. NEIL MACLEAN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that orders for two ships for coastal trade, which had been given to Scottish shipbuilders, have been cancelled, the reason given being that the proposed tax of 1s. per gallon on oil fuel would make it too expensive for such ships to be operated; whether he has made any investigations into the matter; and whether he can state what action will be taken to enable the orders for such ships to be renewed, and thereby give employment to shipyard workers?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I said in the Debate on the report of the Resolution that, without making any promise, I should be prepared to consider representations, and I am carefully examining those which have reached me. These include the particular matters referred to in these questions, and I should prefer not to answer in detail until I have had time to complete my examination.

Lieut.-Colonel MOORE

Might I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that in Ardrossan 150 men have been thrown out of employment through the cancelling of an order for ships and would he consider whether the cost of unemployment benefit to them and to others throughout the country would not balance any saving or gain?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I am prepared to take into consideration all the representations that are being made to me, and that will be one of them.