HC Deb 12 February 1946 vol 419 cc176-7
59. Colonel Gomme-Dunean

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether wife of a prisoner of war may be treated, for the purposes of Income Tax, as femme sole for any year in which her husband was absent from Great Britain as a prisoner for nine months or more of that year.

Mr. Dalton

Yes, Sir, if the husband was absent from this country for the whole of an Income Tax year and if such assessment is to the joint advantage of husband and wife. Where the husband is absent for any part of a year, the assessment depends on the particular circumstances of the case. I am anxious that all such cases should be treated sympathetically, and shall be glad to look into any case which the hon. and gallant Member may like to send me.

59. Mr. Stokes

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will restrict the funds available for the purchase of U.S. tobacco in order that the dollar exchange may be used instead for the.purchase of food; and whether he will make arrangements with the Board of Trade so that tobacco. is supplied from Turkey, which country is.anxious to take our goods in exchange.

Mr. Dalton

I hope to refer to this question during the Debate on Thursday. My right hon. and learned Friend the President of the Board of Trade advises me that we are already providing British smokers with as much Turkish tobacco as they are prepared to smoke.

Mr. Stokes

In this statement on Thursday will the Chancellor bear in mind that the United States imports£10 million worth of tobacco annually from Turkey, and is he aware that much of that is re-exported to this country from the United States, for which we pay dollars? Would it not be better to buy it direct?

Mr. Dalton

We already buy at least as much as we can get away with.

Mrs. Leah Manning

Would not the Chancellor undertake some propaganda in his Department, such as was undertaken by the Ministry of Food to make us have a taste for dried eggs, in order to make men have a taste for this kind of tobacco?