§ Mr. LOOKERasked the Minister of Transport whether, during the consideration of a revision of the rates of licence duties payable by mechanically propelled vehicles now in progress, the questions of taxing heavy motor vehicles according to the actual weight carried and of placing a limit on that weight will be considered?
§ Colonel ASHLEYThe question of the revision of the system of motor taxation will be considered from all aspects, but taxation according to laden weight is open to great objection owing to the difficulty of detecting cases in which the licensed laden weight has been exceeded. As regards the latter part of the question, maxima for axle-weights, that is for the combined weights of the vehicle and the load, are already prescribed by Order.
§ Mr. W. BAKERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the number of pre-1913 cars on which a rebate is allowed; and whether, seeing that insistence upon the full taxation of old cars militates against their use, he will grant a concession to all owners of cars manufactured five years prior to the current financial year?
§ Colonel ASHLEYI have been asked to answer this question. The rebates in respect of motor vehicles with pre-1913 engines, allowed in the year ended 30th November, 1925, amounted to approximately £120,000, but I cannot give the number of vehicles concerned without special inquiries from the local authorities. As regards the latter part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on the 16th February to the hon. Member for the Newbury764W Division (Brigadier-General Clifton Brown), of which I am sending him a copy.