HC Deb 14 November 1944 vol 404 cc1790-1
55 and 56. Miss Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) on what date he received, as an outcome of his invitation to motor manufacturers, proposals for a revision of the motor taxation system; and if he is yet in a position to reply;

(2) if he is aware that the continued delay in announcing his decision as to whether he will accept the recommendations of the motor-car manufacfuturers for a revision of the taxation system has made useless the decision conveyed to the trade that they could begin pre-production planning of their post-war activities.

Sir J. Anderson

I received a statement from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders on 9th June, but I have received later statements from other interests which I am considering. I hope to be in a position to make a statement in the near future.

Miss Ward

Will my right hon. Friend try to speed up the machinery of government, which is absurdly slow at the present time and injurious to the export trade?

Sir J. Anderson

This is not a question of the machinery of government; these are matters of great importance, and it is just as well that they should be fully considered.

Mr. Moelwyn Hughes

In considering these recommendations, is the Chancellor accepting as his principle the necessity for extracting the same amount of revenue from motor taxation, whatever its basis may be?

Sir J. Anderson

I dealt with that point fully in the course of the Budget Debate.