HC Deb 07 December 1954 vol 535 cc758-9
22. Wing Commander Bullus

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amount of revenue received monthly from the 10 per cent. pool betting duty on greyhound racing totalisators during the period January-September, 1954; and whether the total for the nine months is greater or less than for the same period in 1953.

Mr. H. Brooke

As the answer contains a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate that in the OFFICIAL REPORT. The total for the nine months is less than for the corresponding period in 1953.

Wing Commander Bullus

Will my hon. Friend call the attention of his right hon. Friend to the fact that receipts show a consistent decline and ask him if he will once again look at this discriminatory tax with a view to some reduction or to its abolition?

Mr. Brooke

Certainly I will call the attention of my hon. Friend to what my hon. and gallant Friend has said.

Mr. Lewis

While not disagreeing with the hon. and gallant Member as to this discriminatory tax, can the Minister give any other reason why there should be this continuing decline?

Mr. Brooke

I was asked a question of fact and figures, and I think I had better not go into the realm of expressing opinions.

Mr. Noel-Baker

Is the Financial Secretary aware that the returns from Entertainments Duty on football are also falling, and will he take off this tax which is strangling great clubs like Derby County?

Mr. Brooke

That is an extremely important subject, but it is quite a different one.

The following are the figures:

£
January … … … 358,264
February … … … 330,321
March … … … 450,544
April … … … 535,370
May … … … 475,161
June … … … 576,407
July … … … 614,258
August … … … 598,350
September … … … 562,294
4,500,969