HC Deb 23 April 1947 vol 436 cc1171-3

Motion made, and Question proposed, "That this House doth agree with the Committee in the said Resolution."

Mr. Stanley

We are anxious, as the Chancellor knows, to have a reasonable chance of discussion of the Resolution dealing with bonus issues, and, therefore, we propose to allow both this and the next two Resolutions to go through with only this warning: that, although we do not oppose them, we feel that when we come to the Finance Bill there may be considerable discussion upon them. During the Chancellor's Budget speech the only explanation that he gave of this general increase in the Stamp Duties, related to those covered by the next Resolution. Even that was unsatisfactory. No real explanation of the reason for the increase in this Resolution was given. It does occur to us—and, indeed, some reference was made to it by hon. Members opposite—that there is hardness in the manner in which this may fall on certain classes of wholly desirable transactions. Therefore, in letting these three Resolutions through tonight, we would have it clearly understood that that does not commit us to whole-hearted acceptance of the details in the Resolutions, when we see them in the Finance Bill.

Mrs. Ridealgh (Ilford, North)

I am glad to have this opportunity to appeal to the Chancellor once more to exempt from the Stamp Duties conveyances and transfers of property in the case of small house property up to a limit of £2,500. During this depressing and tragic need for houses, as I am sure the Chancellor realises, thousands of our people up and down the country have no hope whatever of getting houses to rent for a few years to come. In my own area, we have 8,000 families on our waiting list, and the largest number of houses we can hope to build in our area is about 1,500. So these people have to hope they will be able to buy houses. I am sure the Chancellor is aware that small houses which, prior to the war, were built for £600 or £900 have now reached fabulous prices—£2,000, £2,500, and even £2,800. People who are living in the most tragic conditions have to pay exorbitant prices to go elsewhere—perhaps, still in miserable conditions. I am asking only that small house property shall be free from this Stamp Duty. Stamp Duty now paid on a house of about £1,950 is £19 10s. If this Stamp Duty is doubled it will be £37 10s., and £1 for every £50 added; with the result that if a person has to pay £2,500 for a house, he will have to pay something like £48 Stamp Duty—a deposit on top of the deposit which he has probably had great trouble to find. Men who have been away in the Forces are putting their gratuities, or what is left of their gratuities, into deposits for these houses, so as to get away from the miseries of living in overcrowded conditions. Many of them come to me asking how they can raise money to buy houses, some of them come to me after they have got into these houses and are having to face the many problems involved. I would ask the Chancellor to give sympathetic consideration to this matter.

11.15 p.m.

Mr. C. Williams

This Debate has taken an extremely fortunate turn, and I will do nothing to discourage the Chancellor, from accepting the point of view which has been expressed. I would like to congratulate the hon. Member for North Ilford (Mrs. Ridealgh) on having made the first practical speech from that side of the House in this discussion. I would like to recommend to the Chancellor that a remission of Stamp Duty on these small purchases of property, as the hon. Lady suggested, would have a very valuable effect in many ways. I need not do more than remind the Chancellor that he attempted to do a similar thing last year, though not in this connection. At present it is essential that we should do everything we can 'to encourage small people to build houses. When we get really sound back bench Tory speeches, such as we have just had from the hon. Lady, I feel sure that many on this side of the House will support those speeches. I would like to ask the Chancellor whether, between now and the Finance Bill, he will make some concession on this matter. We have been informed that there is a certain amount of money to be given away. The Chancellor will never get a more deserving cause, than this and it could not have been better put than it was in the speech we haw just heard. May I say, that the way in which hon. Members opposite appear to regard the hon. Lady's remarks made it obvious that they knew she was speaking a good deal of truth, and giving valuable advice to the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Therefore, he can take the hon. Lady's advice and my advice without any fear of a mutiny, which might cause him trouble with his backbenchers, such as he had over the Tobacco Duty.