§ 58. Mr. Perkinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he has received during the last financial year from Purchase Tax on tooth paste, tooth brushes, razor blades, combs, hair slides, shoe laces, clothes pegs, electric light bulbs, aspirins, hair nets, buttons, needles, toilet rolls, electric torches, wireless batteries, toys and hair cream, respectively; and whether he will consider abolishing Purchase Tax on these articles in order to reduce the cost of living.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. John Edwards)Traders are not required to furnish returns regarding the amounts of Purchase Tax collected in the detail which would be required to answer the question, and the information asked for is not therefore available. As regards the second part of the Question, I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.
§ Mr. PerkinsWhy do the Government always automatically turn down every suggestion for reducing the cost of living?