§ 36. Mr. E. Johnsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the loss of revenue from Entertainments Duty in 1957 from cinemas which closed in 1956 or 1957, and in 1958 from those which closed in 1957 or 1958, assuming that the amount which would have otherwise been the same remained the same as in their last full year of operation.
§ Mr. ErrollI regret that it is not possible to make the estimates for which my hon. Friend asks.
§ Mr. JohnsonWould it not be very desirable to make that estimate in order to discover from it whether it is necessary or desirable to reduce Entertainments Duty on cinemas? Is it not probable that a great deal of revenue is being lost.
§ Mr. ErrollIt really is quite impossible to make the estimate because no centralised record of Entertainments Duty paid by individual cinemas is kept; and it is not, of course, possible to estimate the revenue collected from those other cinemas which have not closed and which have succeeded in attracting patrons from those which have closed.
§ 48. Sir W. Anstruther-Grayasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the fact that in 1958 no less than twenty cinemas throughout Scotland were forced to close and that in 1959, to date, a further ten have closed; and whether he will bear these facts in mind when reviewing the Entertainments Duty.
§ Mr. ErrollMy right hon. Friend is aware of the situation to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers and he will bear it in mind in his review of the Entertainments Duty.
§ Sir W. Anstruther-GrayWill my hon. Friend bear in mind that of all the deserving cases brought to his attention none will be more deserving in equity than the case of the cinemas?