§ Colonel BALDWIN-WEBBasked the Minister of Transport whether he has considered the statement submitted to him on 17th December last by the members of the Salter Conference that they do not recommend any new rates of licence duty for passenger vehicles of any class; and whether, in view of the discrepancy between this statement and paragraph 134 of the conference report, which states that its final validity depends upon a balance of road costs amounting to £36,500,000 being allocated in detail to passenger vehicles, and in view of the loss that is being caused to industry and to employment through the cancellation or suspension of transport development schemes, municipal and other, owing to uncertainty on these points, he will take steps forthwith to clarify the position?
§ Lieut.-Colonel HEADLAMI fail to see any discrepancy between the two statements to which my hon. and gallant Friend refers. As regards licence duties generally, I am not in a position to add to the replies which have already been given to the effect that questions of taxation are Budget matters which cannot be anticipated.