§ 63. Lieut.-Colonel Sir Thomas Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps which will enable a concession to be granted to members of the Fighting Services on leave in this country to use and drive an unlicensed motor car?
§ Sir K. WoodAt present leave permits to drive unlicensed cars can be granted to members of the Armed Forces on leave from such service as is specified in Section 8 (2) of the Finance Act, 1940. As I understand it, the proposal of my hon. and gallant Friend is that the law should be amended to enable such permits to be granted to all members of the Armed Forces on leave, irrespective of the service from which they are on leave. Such a concession would be a serious matter from the Revenue point of view, but this is not the only difficulty to which the proposal gives rise. Leave permits at present carry with them the privilege of a ration of petrol, sufficient for 300 miles of motoring. A wide extension of the conditions of eligibility for leave permits would, therefore, make it necessary either to reduce this privilege or to import more petrol. Moreover, there are other considerations which would make it inadvisable in present conditions to take action which would lead to an increase of private pleasure motoring. I regret, therefore, that I cannot see my way to accept this proposal.
§ Sir T. MooreDoes my right hon. Friend not recall that he admitted the principle of this concession in his last Finance Bill, and does he think that the mere transfer of the British Expeditionary Force back to this country should make any difference?
§ Sir K. WoodYes, Sir, I think the considerations I have mentioned show that to be so.