asked the Minister for Supplies if he will state whether, in view of the Government's undertaking given in September, 1939, that fees would not be charged under Section 8 of the Emergency Powers Act, 1939, except to provide for bare administration and for the service of the undertaking to which the particular fee referred, he will state how the amount of 10/- has been arrived at as the appropriate fee to be charged for tea retailers' licences. and the vari ous headings under which expenditure is anticipated, and the estimated expenditure under each such headings, and the total amount of such expenditure; and further, if he will state the total amount which it is estimated will be received in respect of such licences.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Tea Licences.
The fee payable on each tea retailer's licence issued under Article 11 of the Emergency Powers (Distribution of Tea) Order, 1941, was fixed at 10/- so as to cover the cost of administering the scheme of tea rationing. The total amount estimated to be received in fees is £15,000, and it is anticipated that the expenditure on administration, which will continue so long as the tea rationing scheme is in force, will be considerably in excess of that amount. Expenditure will be incurred in respect of staff; accommodation, including heating and lighting; postal, telephone, etc., services; and printing, stationery and advertising. It is estimated that the cost of the staff employed on the tea rationing scheme will be about £13,000 a year, but expenditure under the other heads mentioned is highly conjectural and no estimate can be given at this stage.
Can the Minister offer any reason why the cost of the tea rationing scheme should cause taxation to be imposed in this particular way on a limited set of people?
Why not?
Does the Minister suggest that the cost of the machinery for dealing with tea rationing, and imposed in this fashion on these people, is anything but taxation?
I do not know on whom the Deputy suggests the cost should fall.
Ought it not fall on the general taxpayers?
The law provides for the recovery of administration costs in connection with schemes of this kind by the imposition of licence fees and that law has been put into operation in this case.
I suggest the law does not authorise any such thing.
Then the fees cannot be collected.
The fees are being collected as a result of misrepresentations to the House.