HC Deb 31 October 1945 vol 415 cc531-2

Motion made, and Question proposed,

"That the Purchase Tax (Alteration of Rates) (No. 3) Order, 1945 (S.R. & O., 1945, No. 1202), dated 26th September, 1945, made by the Treasury under the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1940, a copy of which Order was presented on 9th October, be approved."—[Mr. Glenvil Hall.]
Mr. Butcher (Holland with Boston)

I do not want to detain the House more than a few moments, but I am sure there are other Members in this House besides myself who would wish to hear from the Financial Secretary why, just at the present time when there are so many young families trying to set themselves up in homes, when these popular hardware utensils are coming on to the market it should be the policy of this Government not to exempt them from tax altogether, but only to make this negligible reduction in the Purchase Tax.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

What is being done is to reduce the Purchase Tax from 33⅓ to 16⅔ per cent. That reduction will mean a certain loss of revenue. If the tax had been taken off altogether, the Chancellor of the Exchequer would, of course, have included these in the list of articles in the Resolution which we have been debating today. As that was not possible, the Government have decided to make a reduction by this means, and I hope the House will accept it.

Question put, and agreed to.