§
Motion made, and Question proposed,
That the Purchase Tax (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order, 1946 (S.R. & O., 1946, No. 211) dated 19th February, 1946, made by the Treasury under the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1940, a copy of which Order was presented on 22nd February, be approved."—[Mr. Whiteley.]
§ 2.56 p.m.
§ Mr. R. A. Butler (Saffron Walden)Are we to have an explanation of this Motion?
§ The Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. William Whiteley)I am very sorry that my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary has been called away to a rather important meeting. He asked me to take over his notes and, if necessary, explain the matter to the House. This matter, of course, has been before the Committee dealing with these Orders, but they have not made any report. It is not controversial. The Chancellor agreed, on 10th January this year, that the Treasury might make an order to exempt from Purchase Tax centrifugal organ blowers, accessories and parts thereof. A 100 per cent. tax on the wholesale value of parts of the organ blower has been in operation, but those parts dealing with ventilation have been free from tax. Therefore, when the organ blower was taken to a site and built up it was sometimes difficult to assess which parts were tax free and which parts were not. Therefore, the Chancellor of the Exchequer has now determined to annul this order and make all parts of the organ blower tax free.
§ Wing-Commander Roland Robinson (Blackpool, South)Could the right hon. Gentleman tell the House exactly what will 1584 be the loss in revenue to the Treasury by withdrawing the tax on these items?
§ Mr. WhiteleyI cannot give any idea.
§ Question put, and agreed to.
§
Resolved:
That the Purchase Tax (Exemptions) (No. 1) Order, 1946 (S.R. & O., 1946, No. 211) dated 19th February, 1946, made by the Treasury under the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1940, a copy of which Order was presented on 22nd February, be approved.