Mr. Woodasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury why the reduction of 25 per cent. in the horse-power duty, which was accorded to private car owners, was not extended to commercial vehicles; and whether any consideration can now be given to this possible extension in view of the increased difficulty of commercial road transport following the recent increase in the tax on the fuel used?
§ Captain Wallace:The reasons which led the then Chancellor of the Exchequer to 1414W reduce the horse-power tax on private cars in 1934 were fully explained by him in his Budget speech for that year, to which I would refer my hon. Friend. In reply to the second part of the question, I would refer him to the answer given on 24th May by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to my hon. Friend the Member for Evesham (Mr. De la Bére).