§ 57. Group Captain Wilcockasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the abuse that is occurring in the printing trade as a result of purchase tax being charged only by those printers whose annual turnover is over £500 of taxable printing; and whether he will take steps to adjust this.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe position is not such at the present time as to warrant the drastic step of abolishing the £500 exemption limit, but the matter will be kept under review.
§ Group-Captain WilcockDoes my right hon. Friend realise that the small printer is at a very great advantage and that he is undercutting the larger printer, which is causing very much dissatisfaction, because the larger printer usually employs trade union men?
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThere is no very real grievance if what my hon. and gallant Friend says is, in fact, true. But if the limit were lowered, it would cause great difficulty to a large number of small people and we should need a large staff to collect the tax.
§ Mr. Charles WilliamsArising out of the original answer, will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind that most people on this side of the House wish to give the advantage to the small man?