§ Sir Bernard Braineasked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the 1971 murder figure; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe latest corrected figure for offences of murder known to the police in England and Wales in 1971 is 177. Of these, three offences are pending before the courts and 28 offences are not yet cleared up. The corresponding 1970 figure was 135, with 17 offences not cleared up.
As I foreshadowed, this is a disturbing increase. But it is right to point out that, as the table below shows, the increase, compared with the previous year, is mainly accounted for by a rise in "abnormal" murder, that is, murder in which the suspect was found insane or committed suicide.
In 1971, as in previous years, in the majority of offences of murder the victim was related to, or otherwise an associate of, the suspect.
Among the "normal" murders which were cleared up, quarrels, jealousy and revenge were the predominant motives. Theft or other gain appeared to be the motive in 19 cases. Two murders were committed while resisting arrest.
§ Mr. HigginsThe charges made for inspections of vehicles carried out by garages, motor engineers, etc., as a normal commercial service would be taxable in the same way as charges made for other professional or trade services. The fees charged for the annual inspection of vehicles under the Road Traffic Act. 1972 409W would be regarded, for the purpose of value added tax, as not constituting a taxable supply and tax would therefore not be chargeable.
§ Mrs. Doris Fisherasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the charities which have made representations to him to secure zero-rating under value added tax; and what replies he has sent.
§ Mr. HigginsMy right hon. Friend has received representations asking for various forms of relief from a number of individual charities and from organisations with a more general interest in this sector, such as the National Council of Social Service and the Churches Main Committee. The replies have explained that, as my right hon. Friend said in his Budget speech, the overall effect on the cost of charities of the changes in indirect taxation, taking into account the abolition of purchase tax and SET, is likely to be small, and when account is taken of the estate duty and capital gains tax concessions it is clear thatcharities will be substantial net beneficiaries from the Budget.
§ Mr. Gorstasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate Customs and Excise has made on the revenue likely to be raised from value-added tax on the takings of coin-operated amusement machines, other than those subject to gaming machine licence duty.
§ Mr. HigginsNo estimate has been made.
§ Mr. Gorstasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate Customs and Excise has made of the amount of the revenue to be raised from value added tax on the hiring of machines subject to gaming machine licence duty.
§ Mr. HigginsNo estimate has been made.