§ Mr. Oakesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far it is his intention so to draft the Finance Bill that the proposed duty on fruit machines will apply to the ld. machines operated at fairgrounds by travelling showmen.
§ Mr. DiamondThe exemption for small-scale gaming which my right hon. Friend mentioned in his statement in the House on 1st March, will extend to gaming machines operated as amusements with modest prizes at arcades and fairs. Details of the exemption will be included in the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of fruit machines in use operated 173W by a coin of 3d. and 1d. respectively; and what he expects to receive during the financial year from the proposed £37 10s. duty in respect of such machines.
§ Mr. DiamondThis precise information is not available but the yield is expected to be a small part of the total of £3½ million forecast as likely to be forthcoming from gaming machine licences.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of duty he proposes shall be levied on fruit machines operated by a disc and not by a coin.
§ Mr. DiamondI would ask my hon. Friend to await the publication of the Finance Bill.
§ Mr. Oakesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of 6d. fruit machines in use in Great Britain; and what revenue he expects to receive during the financial year from the proposed £75 duty per annum in respect of such machines.
§ Mr. DiamondAbout twice as many as in 1963 when a statutory inquiry revealed 23,257 such machines. As my right hon. Friend stated in the House on 1st March his estimate of the yield of the gaming machine licence duty is £3½ million.