§ 15. Major Guy Lloydasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that in London and some provincial towns in England women's clothes have been sold recently in large quantities at half coupon rate; whether it was done, with his approval; and whether retailers in Scotland are being permitted to hold sales of women's clothes at corresponding reductions in coupon values.
§ Mr. H. WilsonThe regulations permitting sales at half-coupon rates are of long standing, and no special approval for such sales is needed. My information is that the quantities of clothing sold in this manner recently were relatively small. The regulations apply to the whole of the United Kingdom, and I have reason to believe that they are well known to retailers in Scotland.
§ Mrs. Jean MannIs my right hon. Friend aware that we have had sales in Scotland at half coupon rate, and if the hon. Member for East Renfrew (Major Lloyd) had been really awake following New Year's Day, he would have known that thousands of pounds' worth of goods were disposed of at Glasgow at half coupon rate?
§ Mr. WilsonAs my hon. Friend has said, sales have been going on in Scotland.
§ 28. Mr. Collinsasked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the hardship occasioned to retail drapers under the regulations applying to the sales of clothing at half-coupon rate; and if he is prepared to make an adjustment of this rate, and also a refund of excess Purchase Tax.
§ Mr. H. WilsonNo, Sir, but I am considering whether, in the light of the change in the price level since the rates were fixed, there is any case for adjusting them. The question of Purchase Tax is a matter for my right hon. and learned Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. CollinsIs my right hon. Friend aware that owing to the coupon difficulty these goods have had to be sold at a 355 third or a quarter of the Purchase Tax actually paid, and that this is a most unjust handicap; and will he look into this matter again?
§ Mr. WilsonI have said that I am considering this matter.