§ 66. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Minister of Transport what considerations governed his refusal to the London Passenger Transport Board of any rebate of licensed vehicle duty on the board's central omnibuses in respect of the four weeks at the time of the Coronation of Their Majesties during which these omnibuses were not working owing to strike action?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport (Captain Austin Hudson)I have no knowledge of any application for rebate having been made by the London Passenger Transport Board, and Parliament has given my right hon. Friend no power to allow a rebate of Motor Vehicle Licence Duty in respect of broken periods of non-user save where licences are surrendered for a complete month or complete months.
§ 67. Captain Cunningham-Reidasked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider that part of the fourth annual report of the London Passenger Transport Board, in which the board emphasise the unreasonableness of having to apply to taxation, apart from Income Tax, over 8 per cent. of their gross receipts, and claim that so heavy a burden prevents them from having that margin of resources which is necessary for the discharge of their duty to provide an adequate passenger transport system in the London area; and whether he will take steps to make some remission of taxation?
§ Captain HudsonThe taxation paid by the London Passenger Transport Board on their vehicles and fuel is in accordance with statutory scales applicable throughout the country. Any question of a variation of the existing scales of taxation would be a matter for consideration in connection with the Budget.