HC Deb 09 May 1939 vol 347 cc291-2
49. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that he has remitted part of the tax on theatre seats, he will also consider equivalent remissions on cinema seats and seats for entertainments such as football matches?

The Chancellor of the Exchequer (Sir John Simon)

I regret I am unable to consider any extension of this concession.

Mr. T. Williams

Is not the minimum tax upon cinema seats costing above 6d., which is I½d., a diminishing tax, and, does the right hon. Gentleman not think that to reduce the I½d. down to id. would benefit not only the cinema proprietors but the cinema-goers and the Treasury?

Sir J. Simon

I will gladly consider what the hon. Member has just said, but I have had these matters very carefully under review, and at present I am of opinion that I cannot make further modifications.

Mr. Kirkwood

Will the right hon. Gentleman reconsider his decision as far as football is concerned? It is a working man's pastime and is followed by tens of thousands of people in this country.

Sir J. Simon

I quite recognise that it is a very important pastime and one which attracts great crowds, and I do not think those crowds will be unwilling to make their contribution to the public need.

Mr. Leonard

As the cinema is one of the mediums for the dissemination of Government propaganda, is it not desirable to have the audiences as large as possible?

50. Mr. Kirkwood

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assurances he received that the full benefit of the recent remission of the Entertainments Duty on theatre seats would be passed on to the general public?

Sir J. Simon

I do not think that a hard and fast bargain of the kind mentioned by the hon. Member could be expected in this case. As I said in my Budget statement, the duty has aggravated the disability from which the living theatre suffers in its competition with the cinema, and my object in making the reduction was to lessen that difficulty.