§ Sir WILLIAM BULLasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether the proportion of the new licence duties imposed by The Finance (1909–10) Act, 1910, which falls upon the licensed trade in London is in excess of the amount paid by the trade in other parts of the United Kingdom; and, if so, whether he will at the earliest opportunity take steps to remedy this inequality?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEIt has been publicly announced that my right hon. Friend has been in conference with representatives of the licensed trade on the subject of the proper method of computing annual value for the purpose of licence duties, and that he has promised to include in the financial provisions which Parliament will be asked to pass before the close of the financial year an Amendment dealing with this matter. In these circumstances, I must ask the hon. Member to wait until that Amendment is before the House.