HC Deb 06 February 1934 vol 285 c958
58. Mr. MANDER

asked the Secretary for Mines the amount of miners' welfare levy which remains uncollected for the year 1932; and what proportion this bears to the whole?

Mr. E. BROWN

On the 31st January, £380,659 of the amount due in 1933 in respect of the output in the year 1932 at the rate of 1d. per ton was outstanding. This represents 43.8 per cent. of the total. I would remind my hon. Friend that a Bill is at present before the, House to reduce the rate of levy from 1d. to ½d. per ton in respect of that and subsequent years.

Mr. MANDER

Has the hon. Gentleman any statutory authority for not collecting this levy?

Mr. BROWN

In that case the hon. Member had better wait and see.

Mr. MANDER

Can the hon. Gentleman say why, for a period of a whole year, without any statutory authority, the Government have not collected this penny as they were bound to do under the law?

Mr. BROWN

The hon. Member appears to have in mind a statement made on behalf of the Government in this House a good time ago.

Mr. MANDER

Has not the statement made this afternoon shown that half the levy has not been collected, and that the hon. Member has deliberately done this without any statutory authority?

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