§ 70 and 71. Mr. Christopher Shawcrossasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will substitute, in place of the present cubic capacity tax on private motor-cars, a flat rate tax of £5 per annum, per vehicle, with an increased tax on petrol;
(2) what recommendations he has recently received from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, or from the Motor Advisory Council, concerning alteration of the present system of tax on private motor-cars; and if he will publish such recommendations.
§ Mr. DaltonMy right hon. Friend the Minister of Supply has received a report from the National Advisory Council for the motor manufacturing industry which he has communicated to me and the other Ministers concerned. It is now under consideration. My hon. Friend will not, of course, expect me to anticipate my Budget Statement.
§ Mr. ShawcrossIs my right hon. Friend aware that he is by far the best Chancellor of the Exchequer this country has ever had and, therefore, much more likely to introduce this much overdue reform than were any of his less capable predecessors?
§ Mr. EdelmanWill my right hon. Friend bear in mind that the motor trade generally is in favour of the revised form of taxation mentioned by my hon. Friend?
§ Mr. DaltonI will promise to give the matter careful consideration, but it would be wrong for me to give any definite undertaking at the moment. I am a little embarrassed with the speed with which the spokesmen of the motor industry change their minds.
§ Mr. Oliver StanleyIn his consideration, will the right hon. Gentleman pay more attention to the views of the motor industry than to the flattery of his hon. Friends?