HC Deb 26 February 1957 vol 565 cc1031-3
33. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been received so far during the current financial year from Entertainments Duty on cinemas, theatres and music halls, football matches, horse racing, dog racing and speedway racing, respectively; and how this compares with the corresponding period in the financial year 1955–56.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I will, with permission, circulate the figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Following are the figures:

The approximate yields of Entertainments Duty on admissions to watch the listed entertainments were as follows:—

Entertainment Yield from 1st April, 1955 to 31st January, 1956 Yield from 1st April, 1956 to 31st January, 1957
£'000 £'000
Cinemas 28,170 29,000
Theatres and music halls 1,760 1,720
Football matches 1,210 1,220
Horse racing 930 920
Dog racing 460 540
Speedway 50 40

34. Mr. E. Johnson

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts have been received so far during the current financial year from duty on totalisators on dog racecourses, from bookmakers' licence duty and from duty on football pools; and how this compares with the corresponding period in the financial year 1955–56.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

I will, with permission, circulate the reply in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Mr. Johnson

Is my right hon. Friend aware that if he would tax bookmakers in the same way as they are taxed in Ireland and would divide the proceeds with the sport on which the bets are made, he would go down to history as the benefactor both of sport and the general taxpayer? Will he give that his consideration when he prepares his Budget?

Mr. Thorneycroft

These seem to me to be budgetary matters.

Following is the reply:

The receipts of pool betting duty and of bookmakers' licence duty for the period April, 1956 to January, 1957, and for the corresponding period in 1955–56, were as follows:—

— 1st April, 1956 to 31st January, 1957 1st April, 1955 to 31st January, 1956
£ £
Pool betting duty receipts
At 10 per cent. on greyhound totalisators 5,296,883* 5,125,565
At 30 per cent. on football and similar pools 16,132,461* 15,979,703
Bookmakers' licence duty receipts 1,407,763 1,406,512
*This figure for January, 1957, included in this total is provisional.