§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that whereas a person having a bet on the totalisator at greyhound racing tracks has to pay a 10 per cent. duty, a similar bet, on a similar totalisator, art a horse racing track carries no tax whatsoever; to what extent he estimates this 10 per cent. tax could be reduced if a flat tax on both horse racing and greyhound totalisators was instituted to ensure the same revenue for the Treasury, based on the latest six months of figures for totalisator returns on horse and greyhound race tracks; and whether he will consider this new form of tax in preparing his next Budget.
§ Mr. PowellI am aware of the fact mentioned in the first part of the Question; for the reason explained to the hon. Member in reply to his Question on 6th March last, I cannot give the estimate he asks for in the second part; as regards the third part, my right hon. Friend will bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, before the preparation of his next Budget, agree to meet a deputation of the interested parties in greyhound racing to discuss some system whereby the present 10 per cent. tax on totalisators at greyhound tracks is replaced by a fairer system of taxation, which will abolish the present method of discriminatory taxation against this form of sport.
§ Mr. P. ThorneycroftI shall be prepared to consider, at the appropriate time before the next Budget, representations which any interested parties may wish to make on this subject.