HC Deb 18 June 1935 vol 303 c242

6.26 p.m.

Mr. D. G. SOMERVILLE

I beg to move, in page 5, line 34, to leave out "and is in force on."

In the case of a person who took out a quarterly licence and discontinues it during the summer, he will lose the benefit of any rebate, although he has every intention of renewing his licence in the third or fourth quarter of the year. Having paid for one or two quarters it seems unfair that he should not have the benefit of such payments and be entitled to claim the rebate.

6.27 p.m.

Captain HUDSON

I think my hon. Friend is misinformed as to the effect that his Amendment would have. The effect of Clause 3 is that after August, when the reduced rates come in for certain classes of vehicles, people who have taken out a licence for the whole period shall get a rebate equivalent to the reduced licence for the months after 1st August, that is for five months. It is obvious that the rebate could only be given to people who hold a licence at that time. Suppose somebody had surrendered his licence at the end of the half year, 1st July. When he did so, he would receive his rebate. If, say, his licence was £90, he would receive back £45, being half the money he had paid. If the words which the hon. Member proposes to leave out are deleted, he would also be entitled to a further sum equal to the rebate for the five months after August when this Clause comes into operation. He would already have had back his half, and he would be given a further gift to which he was not entitled in the least degree. I am sure that the hon. Member does not mean that, but that would be the effect of his Amendment. Under Clause 3 as it stands, with the words left in, every licence holder, if he surrenders his licence or if he does not surrender it, will be entitled to a rebate. We cannot accept the Amendment.

Amendment negatived.

Clause ordered to stand part of the Bill.