§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a punter who places a bet on a totalisator at a horse-racing track pays no tax, whereas a person who places the same bet on a totalisator at a greyhound-racing track has a 10 per cent. tax deducted by his Department; and whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will remove this inequality by placing both sports on the same basis so far as taxation is concerned.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage totalisator tax on totalisator at both greyhound racing tracks and horse racing tracks he 178W estimates would be necessary to ensure to the Treasury the same revenue return which is received by the present 10 per cent. tax levied solely on totalisators at greyhound racing tracks; and whether he will consider adopting this method of taxation in his forthcoming Budget.
§ Mr. SimonI cannot give such an estimate, since it is not possible to say how far a duty on totalisator bets at horse racecourses would result in a switch to betting with bookmakers; nor can I anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget.
§ Mr. Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that greyhound race track promoters are by law compelled to deduct 10 per cent. from the totalisator pool for payment to the Treasury, that they are by law limited to a 6 per cent. charge for administration costs, and that this latter figure was fixed many years ago when wages, costs and administration charges generally were much lower than now; and whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider placing greyhound racing on the same basis as horse racing, so far as taxation and charges are concerned, in such a way as to ensure that both aspects are administered by the same Department.
§ Mr. SimonI will bear in mind what the hon. Member says, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget.