Mr William Briggs: 9. asked whether his attention has been called to the coal short- age in Manchester; and whether he can so increase the coal supply for Manchester that householders will receive their full rations?
Mr William Briggs: I hesitate rather to address the House for the first time on a matter which lends itself to so many different opinions, but as a business man I feel I must take this opportunity to show the fallacy of some of the reasoning we have heard from the other side. One hon. Member said that he would tax business men on their banking account. I can assure him that a very large proportion of business...
Mr William Briggs: Will the right hon. Gentleman at the same time inquire why the goods are collected from the ware houses twice a week instead of daily? The warehouses are stored with goods.
Mr William Briggs: 95. asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware of the dissatisfaction which exists amongst workers whose wages vary according to the fluctuations in the cost of living, as shown in the monthly returns of the "Labour Gazette," they considering the figures of the "Gazette" at variance with the facts and not provable in actual practice, and, as some trade unionists have declared their intention...
Mr William Briggs: In view of the fact that a Manchester group of trade unionists have threatened to strike unless they are satisfied that the figures in the "Labour Gazette" are correct, and shown to be based upon actual practice, will the Minister of Labour publish his reply to my question in the next issue of the "Gazette"?
Mr William Briggs: To ask the Secretary of State for War if he has knowledge that the three Privates, Davidson, Pickard and Richards, who have recently been released by the Bolshevists and handed over to the British authorities by Mr. Litvinoff, have been detained by tine Military Police, and are not permitted either to see or communicate with their relatives, and does he consider such action is justifiable or...
Mr William Briggs: May I call attention to the fact that the manufacturers are so engaged that if the suggestion in the question were adopted, it would mean taxing the consumer without benefiting production?
Mr William Briggs: 62. asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether there is any intention to grant a royal pardon to certain naval and military offenders, and if so, will he state what classes will be included?
Mr William Briggs: Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that many firms find considerable difficulty in obtaining ready money to pay these taxes, and will he favourably coasider the question that short-dated mortgages should be issued to these firms?
Mr William Briggs: Is my hon. Friend aware that Courtaulds' profits are not made from silk, as they do not manufacture real silk?
Mr William Briggs: 43. asked the Prime Minister if he will consider the advisability of introducing into the new Rent Restrictions Bill some protection for business premises as well as dwelling-houses?
Mr William Briggs: May I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he will show consideration to those small shopkeepers who are finding themselves in a very difficult position owing to the sale or letting of their premises over their heads?
Mr William Briggs: I feel some diffidence in intervening in this Debate of experts, but I want to say only a few words from the point of view of a plain business man. I agree with the right hon. Baronet the Member for the City of London (Sir F. Banbury) that we should refuse taxation in order to force economy on the Government, but I do not agree that it should be this tax which is refused. What better source...
Mr William Briggs: I know that some of those who were going to support me on my new Clause may now withdraw their support, but I say to them now, let us remember that we business men are making these profits, and let us remember that we are not the only section of the community. There is an equally large section—either professional or middleclass—with fixed incomes, who cannot add to their incomes as we...
Mr William Briggs: I beg to move, "That the Clause be read a Second time." 3.0 P.M. This Clause has for its object the helping of people who are making profits, but, owing to the nature of their business and the tying up of their money and the reduced value of stocks, have not the money at hand wherewith to meet the Excess Profits Duty. There are businesses in which the bigger the profits the greater the...
Mr William Briggs: I can tell the hon. Member that the British Alizarine Company have paid 12½ per cent, dividend for the last 20 years.
Mr William Briggs: In rising to criticise this Bill, I may say it is not because I have not the fullest sympathy with the object of its policy. With the object of its policy, the development of British dyes, I have the greatest sympathy on the main grounds of national security and trade security. But why I do criticise this Bill is because I am entirely opposed to its. methods. I think I am entitled to claim...
Mr William Briggs: I must plead, as a young Member, that perhaps I did not express myself as I ought to have done. I would suggest it was somewhat of a breach of privilege of this House to have put this promise on a prospectus. It happens that because of that promise in that prospectus many Members of the House feel their hands politically tied and would be prepared to act differently but for a sense of moral...
Mr William Briggs: 6. asked the Chief Secretary if his attention has been called to the very definite statements current in the Press that the Weekly Summary is issued by the Government to the troops in Ireland, and that the said publication recently gave instructions that in the event of one member of His Majesty's Forces being killed two members of the Sinn Fein council in Cork would be killed, and if they...
Mr William Briggs: 84. asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, as an alternative to the definite date of 31st August, 1921, laid down in paragraphs 1, 4, and 5 of Part I of the First Schedule of the Finance Bill, allow a period, such as 1st June to 31st August, during which a stocktaking date could be chosen which would coincide with a firm's customary stocktaking date: and is he aware that such...
