§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the profits of the State-owned licensed premises in Carlisle have dropped in the last year from £206,110 to £166,804; and why in the same period their stocks have risen from £395,464 to £426, 205.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe fall in profits in the financial year 1967–68 was due to a sharp increase in costs, which, in pursuance of Government policy, were not fully passed on to the consumer. The increase in money terms of stocks—at some 8 per cent.—mainly reflects increases in cost of materials.
§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many licensed premises are owned by the State in Carlisle, Gretna and Cromarty, respectively.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe information is as follows:
Carlisle State Management District … 173 Gretna State Management District … 15 Cromarty State Management District … 18 Licensed premises in the State Management Districts of Gretna and Cromarty are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.
§ Mr. Kenneth Bakerasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why no provision is made in the accounts of the State-owned licensed premises for the payment of Corporation Tax on the profits as is the custom with other nationalised industries.
§ Mr. Merlyn ReesThe State Management Schemes for which my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary are responsible, like other Government Departments' trading organisations, are not financed on the same basis as the nationalised industries and are not liable to Corporation Tax.