HC Deb 17 December 1946 vol 431 c1768
58. Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the changed attitude of the British motor industry towards the cubic capacity tax, which will replace the horse-power tax on 1st January next, he will postpone this tax pending further consultations with motor manufacturers and other interests concerned.

Mr. Dalton

No Sir.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Is my right hon. Friend aware that the important motor manufacturers, by whom he was influenced to impose the cubic capacity tax, now want to scrap it?

Mr. Dalton

I cannot undertake to keep pace with the changing views of the motor manufacturers. We had a very long discussion on this. It took up more time than it was strictly entitled to do on the merits of the case, and, in fact, I have no power, without further legislation, to alter this date. I think we had better stick to what we have decided.