§ Mr. S. ROBINSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he is aware that the Hawkers' Act of 1888 operates in a distinctly unfair manner, as licences expire on 31st March without taking into any consideration the date in the previous year on which they were taken out, thus compelling a hawker wanting a licence, say three months, two months, or even one month before 3lst March, to pay the full sum of £2 for that short term; and will he take into consideration the advisability of a repeal of. that Act, or some such modification of it as will enable hawkers to take out these licences at any time and to pay a proportionate amount of the total sum?
Mr. GRAHAMAs the Act in question operates as a safeguard to the revenue, I regret I could not agree to its repeal. I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion for modifying the duty.