HC Deb 04 April 1957 vol 568 cc65-6W
3. Mr. Lewis

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, due to the method of betting by telephone and newspaper advertisements, off-course bookmakers are turning over£millions annually in bets from which no tax is deducted, that by this means the Treasury are losing many hundreds of thousands of pounds per week in loss of revenue due to this betting money bypassing the totalisator and thus avoiding the 10 per cent. totalisator tax on greyhound racing; and whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider introducing a special telephone tax on all telephones used by bookmakers and, additionally, a special betting advertisement tax on all advertisements requesting the forwarding of bets.

Mr. Powell

I am aware that there is betting with off-course bookmakers which does not attract the 10 per cent. Pool Betting Duty, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.