§ 7. Mr. Attewellasked the President of the Board or Trade if he is aware that Government surplus officers' field boots, sold by the Government at £1 7s. 6d. per pair under condition of sale that the boots be exported, were retailed on the home market at £3 5s. per pair: if the rice between £ 7s. 6d. and £3 5s. is within the price margin fixed by him; if Purchase Tax has been paid on the sales of these boots; and what steps he is taking to prevent future evasion of conditions of sale.
§ Sir S. CrippsYes, Sir. I am aware of this unsatisfactory transaction. The difference between the Government surplus sale price and the retail price charged does exceed the total of distributors' permitted margins for footwear and it is not yet established whether Purchase Tax has been paid on any or all of these boots. These matters are being looked into, but steps have been taken to ensure that future sales of this type are confined to traders whose full observance of conditions of sale can be guaranteed.
§ Mr. AttewellHow was it possible for my right hon. and learned Friend's Department to give the answer on 3rd April that they were aware of the sales, and justified them on the ground that they were in accordance with the method of disposal of Government surplus articles, 1315 when the answer now proves that they could not have been in possession of that information?
§ Sir S. CrippsAfter further inquiry, we have come to the conclusion which I have stated.