[16TH JUNE.]
Resolutions reported,
Mechanically-Propelled Vehicles
1. "That where a licence has been taken out for a mechanically-propelled vehicle at any rate under the Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1920, and the vehicle is at any
| — | Rate of duty chargeable in respect of a licence to be used only for vehicles chargeable with duty under paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1020. | Rate of duty chargeable in other cases. |
| If the licence is a licence to which the one set of regulations is applicable. | £5 | £25 |
| If the licence is a licence to which the other set of regulations is applicable. | £1 | £5 |
Stamp Duty On Certificates Of Regis-Stratton Of Alkali, Etc, Works
3."That in lieu of the stamp duties chargeable on certificates of registration of the works mentioned in sub-section (1) of section nine of the Alkali, etc., Works Regulation Act, 1906, there shall be charged
time while such licence is in force used in an altered condition or in a manner or for a purpose which brings it within, or which if it was used solely in that condition or in that manner or for that purpose, would bring it within a class or description of vehicles to which a higher rate of duty is applicable under the said Schedule, duty at such higher rate shall become chargeable in respect of the licence for the vehicle."
General Licences Under Roads Act, 1920
2. "That in lieu of the duty chargeable under Section nine of the Roads Act, 1920, in respect of general licences isued under that Section, there shall, in the event of the Minister of Transport in pursuance of any powers which may be conferred upon him issuing two different sets of regulations applicable to such licences, be chargeable in respect of such licences duty at the following yearly rates:—
duties at rates which shall be fixed by the Treasury after consultation with the Minister of Health and the Secretary for Scotland, and which shall be such that the duties levied under the said Act shall not exceed the amount required to meet the costs incurred in respect of the remuneration (including superaanuation allowances) and expenses of the inspectors, and otherwise in connection with inspection under the said Act, and different rates of duty may be fixed as respects different classes of works."
Power To Borrow Moneys Required For Certain Sinking Funds
4. "That the Treasury may raise money in the same manner in which they are authorised to raise money under sub-section (1) of section one of the War Loan Act, 1919, for any of the following purposes, that is to say:—
and that the provisions of Section one of the War Loan Act, 1919, shall have effect accordingly."
First two Resolutions agreed to.
Third Resolution read a Second time.
I beg to move to leave out the words
and to insert instead thereof the words,"at rates which shall be fixed by the Treasury after consultation with the Minister of Health and the Secretary for Scotland, and which shall be such that the duties levied under the said Act shall not exceed the amount required to meet the costs incurred in respect of the remuneration (including superannuation allowances) arid expenses of the inspectors, and otherwise in connection with inspection under the said Act, and different rates of duty may he fixed as respects different classes of works."
On the Committee stage of this Resolution an objection was raised which, on, reconsideration, appeared to have some, considerable substance, and I hope the. House will agree to this Amendment, which will give effect to the desire expressed by Members that some definite sum representing the duty to be charged should be put into the Bill. Hon. Members who were present on the Committee stage will remember that the object was to cover the cost of collection, and, although this will not quite do that, it will considerably increase the amount to be derived. As a matter of fact, the stamp duties will be doubled."of ten pounds in the case of an alkali work and six pounds in the ease of any other work."
Apparently this is an Amendment upon the lines which were advocated in the Committee on Friday, and as far as we can see it is on the right lines, but I would appeal to the hon. Baronet to put the Amendment down on the Paper and to give us a reasonable time for its consideration. It is not quite fair to spring the Amendment on us at 1 o'clock in the morning, and, therefore, I would appeal to the hon Baronet to give us a couple of days to consider it.
With the leave of the House, perhaps I may be allowed to explain that we were under no obligation to put down an Amendment at all. We carried our point on the division, and it was only with a view to meeting the wishes which were clearly expressed in every direction that this Amendment was put down.
What is the hurry?
The hurry is that we must get this through before a Clause can be inserted in the Finance Bill.
What Clause?
The Clause which wilt be based on this Resolution.
What number?
New Clauses are not numbered. The Clause cannot be put down until this Resolution has been passed. I explained what the nature of the Clause would be in moving the Resolution in Committee. This Amendment is put down simply with a view to meeting the wishes of the Committee. As hon. Members will remember, the division took place very nearly at the end of the sitting on Friday, and it was impossible without consulting the necessary authorities, to put down an Amendment. It has there-lore been handed in in manuscript and I hope the House will let us have it.
1.0 A.M
I do not think it is unreasonable to ask that this Resolution should be put down for to-morrow. My friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed by arrangement a few moments ago to give an extra day for the discussion of the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, and he will admit at once that these new Clauses will not be reached certainly before some time late on Wednesday or on the fourth day which has now been arranged by the Patronage Secretary. I know the Government can take the Report stage after eleven o'clock. My hon. Friend is always quite good about these matters, and my right hon. Friend for Widnes (Mr. A. Henderson) has agreed to raise no objection to the Report stage being taken if my hon. Friend will put it upon the Paper to-morrow. The Govern-men will have it to-morrow night without any trouble. I think this is fair, and I appeal to my hon. Friend to agree to that.
I am very anxious to agree, but I think the House might agree to this Resolution to-night. We were -under no obligation to make any alteration. We did so to meet the views of those who sit on the opposite side and we thought it was agreed.
We will give it to you to-morrow night.
That is all I desire.
Then put it on the Paper to-morrow.
I think my hon. Friend will sue that it is reasonable to give us this Resolution now. We cannot put it down on the Paper in time.
Amendment agreed to.
Resolution, as amended, agreed to.
Fourth Resolution agreed to.
Ordered, That it be an Instruction to the Committee on the Finance Bill that they have power to make provision therein pursuant to the said Resolutions.—[ Sir R. Horne.]