§ Mr. COMPTONasked the Minister of Transport whether, seeing that for the three months, namely, from the 1st December, 1923, to 29th February, 1924, the revenue from private motor cars and motor cycles was approximately £5,500,000, and that this amount exceeds the full years' revenue three years ago from vehicles of this class, and having regard to the comparatively small wear and tear of roads by these pneumatictyred vehicles, he will say what steps he proposes to take to reduce the burden of taxation in respect of these vehicles as from 1st January next?
§ Mr. GOSLINGMy hon. Friend no doubt appreciates the fact that the bulk of the Road Fund revenue is obtained in the first quarter of the calendar year, as payments for all annual licences fall due on the 1st January. Until I have had an opportunity of considering the forthcoming Report of the Departmental Committee, I cannot say what modifications of the existing system of taxation may prove necessary.
§ Mr. TOOLEasked the Minister of Transport whether his attention has been called to the speech by Sir Henry Maybury, K.C.M.G., C.B., Director-General of Roads, Ministry of Transport, at the opening of the new bridge over the Thames at Goring and Streatley on 8th November last, during the course of which that officer is reported to have said that road costs were coming down, notwithstanding the large amount of additional traffic on the roads, and that in some districts costs were down as low as they were in 1913–14; and whether, with a decreasing normal expenditure upon roads and a constantly expanding revenue from motor taxation, which is devoted in the main to grants to highway authorities, he will reconsider his decision not to examine the question of amending the existing schedule of duties until after he has received, too late for the subject to be dealt with adequately in the forthcoming Finance Bill, the long delayed Report of the Departmental Committee of the Ministry?
§ Mr. GOSLINGWhile it is true that costs in connection with road works have fallen considerably during the past two or three years, and in some cases are now60W not much in excess of those obtaining in pre-War days, at the same time the demands upon the Road Fund, not only for classified roads but for purely rural roads, are becoming increasingly heavy. In any case, I cannot arrive at a decision as to any possible amendment of the existing schedule of duties until I have had an opportunity of considering the Committee's Report.