HC Deb 28 November 1950 vol 481 cc121-2W
62. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the last completed financial year, what was the total amount received for licences on all descriptions of motor vehicles charged to tax, and the total amount received for driving licences; and of the first amount, what proportion was derived from vehicles owned by nationalised transport undertakings.

Mr. Gaitskell

Vehicles (Excise) duties collected in the financial year 1949–50 amounted to £54,085,120 and fees for driving licences to £1,660,862. It is not possible to distinguish in our statistics the duties paid by any owner or class of owners, but the British Transport Commission's expenditure on vehicles (Excise) duties in 1949 can be deduced from their Report and was £3,102,362.

78. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the fact that the annual revenue from taxes on private motorists is £98,500,000 and that of that amount £24,000,000 was paid to the Road Fund, he will state how the balance was expended.

Mr. Gaitskell

There is no question of any balance between the two figures quoted by the hon. Member. The £98,500,000 to which he refers is paid into the Exchequer and forms part of the general revenue of the country.