§ 8. Mr. R. C. Morrisonasked the President of the Board of Trade when production of British-made utility carpets will restart; and, in view of the high costs of production and the necessity of avoiding inflated prices, he will fix ceiling prices free of Purchase Tax.
§ The President of the Board of Trade (Mr. Dalton)The production of carpets, which had fallen to a very low level, is now being gradually increased. I shall 1769 fix ceiling prices for this new production, but Purchase Tax will continue to be payable.
§ Mr. MorrisonIn view of the fact that these carpets are being undertaken only as utility lines, would it not have been much better to leave them free of Purchase Tax?
§ Mr. DaltonThat is a matter in which the Board of Trade is not primarily concerned: it is entirely a matter for the Treasury. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has met me very well in the past over Purchase Tax concessions on utility goods, but these carpets are not, strictly speaking, utility productions at the present time. What we can do later, when we have increased production, will be a matter for consideration.