HC Deb 26 January 1943 vol 386 c363
56. Sir W. Davison

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the grievance felt by a large number of motor car users who are only able to use their motor cars, owing to Government restrictions, for a fraction of the time they were previously in use, in that they are still obliged to pay the same licence duty as when their motor cars were regularly in use; and whether the licence duty payable on motor cars will be proportionately reduced?

Sir K. Wood

The complaints that have reached my Department on this subject are few. I could not, particularly in present financial circumstances, depart from the principle that the amount of the licence duty payable on a motor vehicle does not depend upon the extent to which it is used.

Sir W. Davison

Does my right hon. Friend realise that what was previously the practice has no relation to existing circumstances, when the use of cars is restricted and many people have three gallons of petrol for the whole month, and yet at the same time have to pay the existing very heavy licence duty for the car?

Sir K. Wood

I am afraid my attention must be devoted to retaining taxation and not to reducing it.