§ Mr. DALTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the public of the printing and issue of currency notes during the financial years 1923–24 and 1924–25, respectively; and under what head in the finance accounts this expenditure is shown?
Mr. GUINNESSThe cost to the public of the printing and issue of currency notes was:
66Wdate, together with the figures for the corresponding period in 1923 and 1924; whether this year's figures are abnormal; and, if so, whether he is now prepared to take any steps against the importing firms in order to safeguard the revenue and to prevent an evasion of the duties foreshadowed in the Finance Bill?
Mr. GUINNESSWith the permission of the hon. and gallant Member I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT detailed figures for the month of May in the years 1923, 1924 and 1925. The Chancellor of the Exchequer is carefully considering the question raised by the increase in the rate of importation. I may add, however, that the increase has been much exaggerated in certain quarters. In the six weeks since the Budget the total number of touring cars imported is about 6,000. There is, therefore, no foundation for the statement which has appeared in one newspaper that 60,000 motor cars in excess of the ordinary supply for the season have been shipped to English ports in that period.
Following are the detailed figures referred to:
£ 1923–24 336,357 1924–25 (estimated) 341,000 This expenditure is provided for in the Estimate for the Inland Revenue (Revenue Departments, Vote 2, Sub-head K1), which Department is responsible for placing the contracts for notes. The above figures do not include the cost of destruction of worn notes (£13,641 in 1923–24 and £15,000 (estimated) in 67W 1924–25), for which provision is made in the Estimate for the Poet Office (Revenue Departments, Vote 3).