§ Mr. SAVERYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amount was received last year from licences for male servants; and whether, in order to encourage employment in that kind of service, he is prepared to abolish or reduce the tax?
Mr. SAMUELThe proceeds of the Male Servant Licence Duty for the year ended 31st March, 1928 (the latest period for which figures are at present available) were £140,588. As my right hon. Friend has explained on previous occasions, this duty is not an Imperial but a Local Taxation Duty. He is afraid that he could not undertake to introduce legislation which would deprive local authorities of part of their revenue unless he were sure of their unanimous consent, and that a demand would not be made upon the Exchequer to replace the revenue so surrendered.