I see in this section a reference to "the Continent of Africa." That is a very big description to find in our Finance Bill. Parts of that continent are in a state of belligerency at the moment.
Finance Bill, 1941—Committee (Resumed).
Question proposed: "That Section 19 stand part of the Bill," put and agreed to.
SECTION 20.
Question proposed: "That Section 20 stand part of the Bill."
Question put and agreed to.
SECTION 21.
21. — (1) In this section—
the expression "restricted period" means any period commencing on a date after the 31st day of December, 1940 (whether such period is wholly before, or partly before and partly after, or wholly after the passing of this Act) during which, in the opinion of the Minister, the use of mechanically propelled, vehicles is restricted by reason of a general scarcity of petrol.
Deputy Dockrell's three amendments which seem to deal with an effort to make permanent certain concessions with regard to road tax, should be discussed together.
I move amendment No. 15:—
In sub-section (1), page II, to delete lines 25 to 30.
I suggest to the Minister that he should accept my amendments, Nos. 15, 16 and 17. Very often the fear of a shortage or stoppage of supplies is worse than the actual stoppage, when it comes. There is no need for me to tell the Minister that we are living in peculiar times, so peculiar that, when-people register their motor cars. many find that there is no oil for them. I suggest to the Minister that the fairest way to treat people who are doing business with the Government is to she them a square deal. If a person registers a motor car, he does so because he thinks he will be able to use it. If they find that an extraordinary set of circumstances has arisen, by which they cannot enjoy that benefit, there ought to be some way of meeting them.
If a trader took money from another person on a promise to perform a service and then found that he could not perform that service, some compromise would be effected. I suggest to the Minister that it would not be all loss to give to the community their due. If duty is exacted from a person and he is uncertain whether he can enjoy any benefit from it, many individuals will not avail themselves of that service by paying the duty. If the Government took power to allow people, in such a set of circumstances, to make a compromise for the rest of the term, I am snre a number of people would take out licences who otherwise would not do so. That is what I meant by my opening remark, that the fear of a shortage was often worse than the actual shortage. Whether the Minister regards this as a square deal for the motor car users or whether he regards it as good business practice to charge only for the service that is given, his best course would be to take power to give back to the people who cannot use their cars for the rest of the term a portion of the fee for the unexpired term.
I take it that we are dealing with amendments Nos. 15, 16 and 17. I think we have met the situation fairly well. I do not think that the emergency should be used to ask this concession as a permanent matter from the revenue. The owners of motor cars who have not been able to use them to the full extent, owing to the shortage of petrol, or for some other reason, have been fairly met. We are also considering the alteration of the regulations so as to permit of the issue of a monthly licence. With these amendments, I think the situation will have been fairly, if not generously, dealt with.
When does the Minister hope to arrive at a decision regarding the monthly licence?
I have a question down regarding that matter for to-morrow. I hope the Minister will be able to answer it then?
I hope so, but I am not certain.
Is this monthly licence to be in the nature of an emergency measure?
Yes.
Will the Minister consider, in conjunction with the monthly licence, the arrangement of insurance on a monthly basis?
That is not a matter for me.
It does not arise.
It might be looked into?
I have nothing to say to it.
The Minister has no responsibility in that connection.
Amendment No. 15, by leave, withdrawn.
Amendments Nos. 16 and 17 not moved.
Sections 21 and 22 agreed to.
SECTION 23.
Question proposed: "That Section 23 stand part of the Bill."
What are the circumstances in which it is found necessary to make this provision?
This provision effects a remission of the additional duty of £12 in the case of a trailer drawn by a commercial vehicle when such trailer is used solely for conveying, for the propulsion of such vehicle, a substitute for petrol or apparatus for making a substitute for petrol.
Is it a secret weapon?
It refers to gas producers which are carried on a trailer in certain cases. It is a concession for the emergency.
Section agreed to.
SECTION 24.
I move amendment No. 17a.
Before Section 24 to insert a new section as follows:—
(1) The excise duty chargeable under Section 13 of the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by Section 20 of the Finance Act, 1926 (No. 35 of 1926), shall not be charged or levied on any mechanically propelled vehicle which is a mobile canteen so long as—
(a) this section is in force, and
(b) such canteen is not conducted for the purpose of obtaining profit for any person concerned in the operation thereof, and
(c) such canteen is operated solely for the conveyance, preparation and supply of food and other necessaries for or to persons for whom the obtaining of such food and necessaries has become impossible or difficult owing to circumstances referable to the war in which the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is now engaged.
(2) This section shall continue in force so long as the Emergency Powers Act, 1939 (No. 28 of 1939), continues in force and shall then expire.
It is proposed to allow a concession similar to that under the last section in the case of mobile canteens, of which there are a few in use in different parts of the country.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 24 agreed to.
SECTION 25.
Question proposed: "That Section 25 stand part of the Bill."
What is the reason for increasing the penalty for failure to pay dog duty?
Last year, there was a considerable decrease in the amount of duty collected.
Then, this is a way of balancing the Budget.
We propose to increase the penalty from £1 to £2. This penalty, even if mitigated, as is commonly done, to one-fourth —10/— will be high enough to deter most people from keeping unlicensed dogs and yet not so high as to result in an abnormal number of petitions.
It will help to stem the fall in revenue?
Partly.
Has the Minister made any estimate of the amount he hopes to get by this increase?
Last year, we got £63,262 from this duty.
The Minister hopes to keep the yield up to that figure by this increase?
We shall have to improve on our experience so far this year, if we are to keep up to last year's figure but we do hope to keep up to that figure.
Section agreed to.
SECTION 26.
I do not propose to proceed with this section. The powers sought under the section were intended to remove doubts and were required only for the emergency period. We feel, on reconsideration, that we can carry on without this provision. If difficulties arise, we shall find some other means of meeting them.
Section put and negatived.
Section 27 agreed to.
SECTION 28.
In the case of persons dying after the 7th day of May, 1941, the scale set out in the Second Schedule to this Act shall he, and shall have effect as, the scale of rates of estate duty in lieu of the scale set out in the Second Schedule to the Finance Act, 1931 (No. 31 of 1931), as modified by Section 8 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1939 (No. 33 of 1939).
I move amendment No. 18:
In line 29, page 14, to delete the word "second" and substitute the word "third."
This is merely a change in the title of a schedule.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 28, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 29 to 33, inclusive, agreed to.
SECTION 34.
In this Part of this Act—
the expression "relevant date" in the next preceding definition means, in relation to any company, the date in the year 1938 to which the accounts of such company were last made up or, if the accounts of such company were not made up to any date in the year 1938, such date in that year as the Revenue Commissioners shall determine to be the relevant date for such company.
I move amendment No. 19.
In line 25, page 18, to delete the figures "1938" and substitute the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939" and, in line 28, to delete the word and figures "year 1938" and substitute the words "said year".
Amendments Nos. 19 to 39 embody concessions in regard to excess corporation profits tax.
Yes, Sir. They are all agreed concessions.
Amendment agreed to.
Section 34, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 35.
(1) Paragraphs (c), (d), and (e) of sub-section (1) of Section 47 of the Finance Act, 1932 (No. 20 of 1932), shall not apply or have effect in respect of any accounting period ending on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, and in lieu thereof the following provisions shall (subject to the next following section) apply and have effect in respect of every accounting period so ending, that is to say:—
(c) sub-section (2) of Section 30 of the Finance Act, 1926 (No. 35 of 1926), shall not apply, and in lieu thereof sub-section (2) of Section 45 of the Finance Act, 1925 (No. 28 of 1925), shall apply and accordingly the proviso to sub-section (1) of Section 52 of the Finance Act, 1920, shall be construed and have effect as if for the words "five hundred pounds" wherever those words occur in that paragraph there were substituted the words "one thousand pounds."
(2) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in respect of every accounting period ending on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, that is to say:—
I move amendment No. 20:—
In sub-section (1), page 18, line 33, and also in sub-section (2), page 18, line 57, to delete the word and figures "September, 1939," and substitute in each case the word and figures "January, 1941."
This also deals with the change which I have already explained.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 21:—
In sub-section (1), paragraph (c), page 18, lines 53 and 54, to delete the words "one thousand" and substitute the words "two thousand five hundred."
Amendment agreed to.
Section 35, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 36.
(2) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in respect of every accounting period (in this sub-section referred to as the said accounting period) which began before and ended on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, that is to say:—
(a) the profits arising in the said accounting period shall be apportioned between the part (in this sub-section referred to as the said earlier part) of the said accounting period which was prior to the 1st day of September, 1939, and the part (in this sub-section referred to as the said later part) of the said accounting period which was subsequent to the 31st day of August, 1939, in proportion to the respective lengths of those parts;
(c) no tax shall be charged on so much of the said profits apportioned to the said later part of the said accounting period as bears to one thousand pounds the same proportion as the said later part of the said accounting period bears to twelve months.
I move amendment No. 22.
In sub-section (2), page 19, line 20, and also line 25, to delete the word and figures "September, 1939," and substitute in each case the word and figures "January, 1941," and in line 28, to delete the word and figures "August, 1939," and substitute the word and figures "December, 1940."
This is also consequential.
Amendment agreed to.
I move amendment No. 23:—
In sub-section (2), paragraph (c), page 19, line 37, to delete the words "one thousand" and substitute the words "Two thousand five hundred."
Amendment agreed to.
Section 36, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 37.
(2) The profits on which excess corporation profits tax is made payable by the next preceding sub-section of this section are
(a) so much of the profits (being profits to which Part V of the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by subsequent enactments, applies) which arise or have arisen in any accounting period beginning on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, as exceeds the standard profits as defined in this Part of this Act, and
(b) so much of the profits (being profits to which Part V of the Finance Act, 1920, as amended by subsequent enactments, applies) which have arisen in the part subsequent to the 31st day of August, 1939, of any accounting period which began before and ended on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, as exceeds the standard profits as defined as aforesaid.
(3) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to excess corporation profits tax, that is to say:—
(a) the profits arising in an accounting period which began before and ended on or after the 1st day of September, 1939, shall be apportioned between the part of that accounting period which was prior to the 1st day of September, 1939, and the part thereof which was subsequent to the 31st day of August, 1939, in proportion to the respective lengths of those part;
I move amendment No. 24:—
In sub-section (2), page 20, line 55, and also page 21, line 2, and also in sub-section (3), page 21, lines 7 and 8 and also line 10, to delete the words and figures "September, 1939," and substitute in each case the word and figures "January, 1941,".
Amendment agreed to
I move amendment No. 25:—
In sub-section (2), page 20, line 60, and also sub-section (3), page 21, line 11, to delete the word and figures "August, 1939" and substitute the word and figures "December, 1940".
Amendment agreed to.
Section 37, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 38.
(1) The standard profits of a company shall be computed in accordance with whichever of the following paragraphs is applicable to the company, that is to say:—
(a) if there have been, in respect of the company, three or more consecutive trade years the last of which ended in the year 1938, the standard profits of the company shall be half the amount of the company's profits for the period consisting of two (to be selected by the company or (in default of such selection) by the Revenue Commissioners and in any case not necessarily consecutive) of the last three of the said trade years or the sum of one thousand pounds, whichever is the greater;
(b) if there have been, in respect of the company, two and only two consecutive trade years the later of which ended in the year 1938, the standard profits of the company shall be half the amount of the company's profits for the period consisting of those two trade years or the sum of one thousand pounds, whichever is the greater;
(c) if there has been, in respect of the company, one and only one trade year and that trade year ended in the year 1938, the standard profits of the company shall be the amount of the company's profits for that trade year or the sum of one thousand pounds whichever is the greater;
(d) if one of the foregoing paragraphs of this sub-section is applicable to the company and, when excess corporation profits tax is being assessed on the company for a particular accounting period or part of an accounting period, it is found that the standard profits of the company as calculated in accordance with that paragraph are less than the substituted standard as defined in this Part of this Act applicable to the company in respect of said particular accounting period or part of an accounting period, the standard profits of the company shall be taken for the purpose of that particular assessment to be the said substituted standard;
(e) if there has not been, in respect of the company, any trade year ending in the year 1938, the standard profits of the company shall, for the purpose of the assessment of excess corporation profits tax on the company for any particular accounting period or part of an accounting period, be taken to be whichever of the following amounts is the greater that is to say:—
(i) the substituted standard as so defined as aforesaid applicable to the company for that particular accounting period or part of an accounting period, or
(ii) the sum of one thousand pounds or, where the said particular accounting period or part of an accounting period is less than twelve months, the sum which bears to one thousand pounds the same proportion as the said accounting period or part of an accounting period bears to twelve months.
I move amendment No. 26:—
In sub-section (1), page 21, line 25, and line 35, and line 42, and line 60, to delete the figures "1938" and substitute the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939."
Amendment agreed to.
The following amendments were also agreed to:—
27. In sub-section (1), page 21, paragraph (a), to delete all from the word "half" in line 26 to the word and bracket "consecutive)" in line 30, and in paragraph (b) to delete all from the word "half" in line 36 to the word "consisting" in line 37, and substitute in each case the words "the amount of the company's profits for one (to be selected by the company or (in default of such selection) by the Revenue Commissioners)".—(Aire Airgeadais).
28. In sub-section (1), page 21, line 31, and line 38, and line 44, and page 22, line 10, and line 13, to delete the words "one thousand" and substitute in each case the words "two thousand five hundred". — (Aire Airgeadais).
Section 38, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 39.
Question proposed: "That Section 39 stand part of the Bill."
Would the Minister say, arising out of sub-section (2) (c), whether it is intended to deduct in the first instance from the profits, the interest on the debentures or debenture stock before arriving at the sum at which corporation profits tax will be assessed?
They are taken into account and will be taken into account.
Are they deducted before you arrive at the sum from which corporation profits tax will be deducted?
Do I understand the Deputy to ask whether they will be deducted before the tax will be calculated?
Yes.
No.
Not even the interest on debentures?
No.
Question put and agreed to.
SECTION 40.
(1) In this section and the next following section the expression "interim period" means, in relation to any company, the period from the expiration of the last or only trade year of such company ending in the year 1938 up to and including the 31at day of August, 1939.
(2) If there have been, in respect of a company, three or more consecutive trade years the last of which ended in the year 1938 and the net result of the trade or business carried on by such company in the three last of such trade years has been a loss, then and in such case, for the purpose of the assessment of such company to excess corporation profits tax, such loss shall, to the extent to which it exceeds the profits of such company arising in the interim period, be carried forward and, so far as it will extend, be deducted from or set-off against profits of such company chargeable with the said tax.
(3) If there have been, in respect of a company, two and only two consecutive trade years the later of which ended in the year 1938 and the net result of the trade or business carried on by such company in those two trade years has been a loss, then and in such case, for the purpose of the assessment of such company to excess corporation profits tax, such loss shall, to the extent to which it exceeds the profits of such company arising in the interim period, be carried forward and, so far as it will extend, be deducted from or set-off against profits of such company chargeable with the said tax.
(4) If there has been, in respect of a company, one and only one trade year and that trade year ended in the year 1938 and the net result of the trade or business carried on by such company in that trade year has been a loss, then and in such case, for the purpose of the assessment of such company to excess corporation profits tax, such loss shall, to the extent to which it exceeds the profits of such company arising in the interim period, be carried forward and, so far as it will extend, be deducted from or set-off against profits of such company chargeable with the said tax.
(5) The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to the relief provided for in the foregoing sub-sections of this section, that is to say:—
(a) a company shall be entitled to the said relief only where the standard profits of the company are, in pursuance of this Part of this Act, taken for the purpose of assessment to excess corporation profits tax to be the relevant substituted standard or the sum of one thousand pounds whichever is the greater;
(b) where a company is entitled to the said relief, the said relief shall be given so far as possible in the assessment of such company to excess corporation profits tax for the first accounting period or part of an accounting period in respect of which such company is chargeable with the said tax, and so far as such relief cannot be given in that assessment it shall be given in the assessment of such company to the said tax for the next accounting period, and so on until such relief has been fully given;
(c) for the purpose of ascertaining whether and to what extent a company is entitled to the said relief, the profits of such company arising in an accounting period part of which was before and part of which was on or on and after the 1st day of September, 1939, shall be apportioned in proportion to the respective lengths of those parts.
(6) For the purposes of this section:
(a) the loss incurred by a company in a trade year ending on or before the 31st day of December, 1938, shall be computed in the like manner as profits are required by law to be computed for the purposes of a charge to corporation profits tax, and
(b) the profits of a company for the interim period shall be determined on the same principles as those on which the profits of a company are determined for the purposes of a charge to corporation profits tax, and the enactments for the time being in force in relation to the determination of profits and the determination of accounting periods for the purpose of any such charge shall apply and have effect accordingly.
I move amendment No. 29:—
In sub-section (1), page 23, line 13, and also in sub-section (2), page 23, line 16, and also in sub-section (3), page 23, line 27, and also in sub-section (4), page 23, line 36, to delete the figures "1938" and substitute in each case the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939."
Amendment put and agreed to.
The following amendments were also agreed to:—
30. In sub-section (1), page 23, line 14, to delete the word and figures "August, 1939," and substitute the word and figures "December, 1940."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
31. In sub-section (5), paragraph (a), page 23, line 51, to delete the words "one thousand" and substitute the words "two thousand five hundred."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
32. In sub-section (5), paragraph (c), page 24, line 8, to delete the word and figures "September, 1939," and substitute the word and figures "January, 1941."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
33. In sub-section (6), paragraph (a), page 24, line 13, to delete the word and figures "December, 1938." and substitute the word and figures "August, 1939."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
Section 40, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 41.
(1) Where—
(a) a company (other than a company to which the next following section applies) is assessed to excess corporation profits tax for any accounting period or part of an accounting period, and
(b) the standard profits of such company are, for the purpose of such assessment, computed otherwise than by reference to the substituted standard, and
(c) such company has, since the expiration of the trade year which ended in the year 1938, issued stock or share capital or debentures or debenture stock (in this section referred to as the said new issue) consequent on an invitation to the public to subscribe therefor,
then and in every such case, for the purpose of ascertaining the profits on which the said tax is to be assessed as aforesaid, there shall be deducted from the profits on which the said tax would, but for this section, be so assessed an amount, if such company is incorporated by or under the laws of the State, equal to the standard payments (as defined in this section) in respect of the said new issue or, if such company is a foreign company, equal to the amount which bears to the standard payments (defined as aforesaid) in respect of the said new issue the same proportion as the amount of the turnover of the trade or business carried on by the company in the State during the said accounting period or part of an accounting period bears to the total turnover of all the trade or business carried on by such company wheresoever during that accounting period or part of an accounting period.
(3) In the foregoing sub-section of this section the expression "standard payments in respect of the said new issue" means the amount necessary to provide for the aggregate amount of the following payments in respect of the said accounting period or part of an accounting period, that is to say:—
(a) the dividends on such (if any) paid-up preference stock or shares as was included in the said new issue at the fixed rate at which such dividends arc payable, and
(b) dividends at the rate of 6 per cent. per annum on such (if any) paid-up ordinary stock or shares as was included in the said new issue, and
(c) interest on such (if any) debentures or debenture stock (other than debentures or debenture stock issued to replace an equal amount of debentures or debenture stock issued before the expiration of the trade year which ended in the year 1938) as were included in the said new issue at the fixed rate at which such interest is payable.
I move amendment No. 34.
In sub-section (1), paragraph (c), page 24, line 34, and also in sub-section (3), paragraph (c), page 25, line 16, to delete the figures "1938" and substitute in each case the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939."
Amendment agreed to.
Section 41, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 42.
Where a company has succeeded to a trade or business which, immediately before such succession was carried on by an individual or by two or more individuals in partnership, and such company carries on a trade or business substantially the same as the trade or business so carried on by such individual or such individuals, and such company is a company the directors whereof have a controlling interest therein, and such company has not had three consecutive trade years the last of which ended in the year 1938, then and in such case, if the said individual or all of the said individuals is or are a director or directors of such company, the following provisions shall have effect, that is to say:—
I move amendment No. 35.
In line 27, page 25, to delete the figures "1938" and substitute the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939."
Amendment agreed to.
Section 42, as amended, agreed to.
SECTION 43.
The following provisions shall apply and have effect in relation to the ascertainment, for the purpose of a charge to excess corporation profits tax, of the amount of the profits of a company the directors whereof have a controlling interest therein, that is to say:—
(a) in the case of a company the standard profits of which are computed otherwise than by reference to the substituted standard, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of remuneration paid to a director in excess of whichever of the following amounts is the greater, that is to say:—
(i) an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum, or
(ii) the amount or the average amount of the remuneration paid by the company to such director in respect of the trade year or trade years by reference to the profits in which the standard profits of the company are computed or would be computed if the said profits of the company were not less than one thousand pounds;
(b) in the case of a company the standard profits of which are computed by reference to the substituted standard, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of remuneration paid to a director in excess of an amount calculated in accordance with whichever of the following provisions is applicable, that is to say:—
(i) if there have been, in respect of the company, three or more consecutive trade years the last of which ended in the year 1938, the average amount of the remuneration paid to such director by the company in respect of the three last of the said trade years or an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum, whichever is the greater, or
(ii) if there have been, in respect of the company, two and only two consecutive trade years the later of which ended in the year 1938, an amount equal to half the total remuneration paid to such director by the company in respect of those two trade years or an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum, whichever is the greater, or
(iii) if there has been, in respect of the company, one and only one trade year and that trade year ended in the year 1938, the amount of the remuneration paid to such director by the company in respect of that trade year or an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum, whichever is the greater, or
(iv) if there has been, in respect of the company, no trade year ending in the year 1938, an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum;
(c) in any case, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of remuneration paid to a director appointed after the end of the trade year which ended in the year 1938,—
(i) if such director was so appointed to fill the place of another director, in excess of the maximum amount which would he allowed to he deducted under the foregoing provisions of this section in respect of the remuneration of such other director if he had continued in office, and for that purpose, where such other director was himself appointed during the three consecutive trade years the last of which ended in the year 1938, to fill the place of a predecessor or successive predecessors, the remuneration paid to such predecessor or successive predecessors respectively shall be deemed to be remuneration of such former director, or
(ii) in any other case, in excess of an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum;
(e) in the case of a company which did not begin to carry on trade or business until on or after the 1st day of January, 1939, no deduction shall be allowed in respect of the remuneration of a director in excess of an amount calculated at the rate of one thousand pounds per annum;
I move amendment No. 36:—
In paragraph (a), sub-paragraph (ii), page 26, line 9, to delete the words "or the average amount," and in line 11, to delete the words "or trade years."
Amendment agreed to.
The following further amendments were agreed to:—
37. In paragraph (a), sub-paragraph (ii), page 26, line 15, to delete the words "one thousand" and substitute the words "two thousand five hundred."— (Aire Airgeadais.)
38. In paragraph (b), page 26, line 24, and in line 32, and in line 40, and in line 46, and in paragraph (c), page 26, line 51, and page 27, line 1, to delete the figures "1938," and substitute in each case the words and figures "ended on the 31st day of August, 1939."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
39. In paragraph (e), page 27, line 21, to delete the word "January," and substitute the word "September."—(Aire Airgeadais.)
Section 43, as amended, agreed to.
Sections 44 to 53, inclusive, agreed to.
SECTION 54.
(3) Part I of this Act shall be deemed to come into force on and shall take effect as on and from the 6th day of April, 1941.
I move amendment No. 40:—
In sub-section (3), page 30, line 44, to delete the word and figure "Part I," and substitute the words and figures "Parts I and II."
Amendment agreed to.
Section 54, as amended, agreed to.
First, Second, Third and Fourth Schedules agreed to.
TITLE.
Question proposed: "That the Title be the Title of the Bill."
On the Bill, Sir——
On the Bill at this stage?
Yes.
Though it is irregular the Deputy may ask a question.
During the present abnormal times, a number of firms find that they cannot carry out normal repairs of their premises, secure motor cars to replace those which are wearing out or becoming rusty, or renew their machinery. What is the position of a firm which will be faced with arrears under these heads at the conclusion of the war period? How does the Minister propose to deal with that situation during the present abnormal time?
I think I answered the Deputy the other day when I said that sufficient for the day is the evil thereof. This question which the Deputy has in mind will not arise, so far as the revenue people are concerned, for another year. If the Deputy raises it then, we shall probably be able to tell him something a little more hopeful.
Question put and agreed to.
Bill reported with amendments.
Report Stage?
Would the House have any objection to giving me the Report Stage now?
Would the Minister take it to-morrow?
This is a very bad habit which is growing up of asking for the next Stage of a Bill before the reprint of the Bill is in our hands. We ought at least to have the reprinted Bill in our hands.
Very well, to-morrow.
Report Stage ordered for Wednesday, 25th June.