§ Sir A. GridleyI beg to move, in page 39, line 38, at the end, insert:
Provided that sub-paragraph 2 (a) of paragraph 1 of Part II of the Seventh Schedule to the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939 (which prohibits the inclusion in capital for the purposes of the Excess Profits Tax of sums contributed out of the Consolidated Fund) shall not apply to any sums paid on account of post-war refunds.The Treasury have contended that under the War Damage Acts payments derived from moneys provided by Parliament should be excluded from Excess Profits Tax. Surely, that is most unjust. The words of the Act were intended to refer to fixed assets, but they have been stretched to cover cash compensation for war damage. This is an example of the difficulties that arise when laws are not drafted clearly. The purpose of this Amendment is to make it impossible for a 'similar misunderstanding to arise in respect of Excess Profits Tax refunds.>
§ Mr. DaltonI accept this Amendment, which is a reasonable one, but I must give a warning that I must look at the wording of the Amendment, and I may want to make a slight alteration to it on the Report Stage. I do not quarrel with the purpose of the Amendment, and I agree with the hon. Member's arguments.
§ Amendment agreed to.
§ Clause, as amended, ordered to stand part of the Bill.
§ Clauses 47 to 57 ordered to stand part of the Bill.