§ 29. Sir E. Boyleasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can yet say when the Report of the Purchase Tax (Valuation) Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Frederick Grant, Q.C., will be published.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerThe Report is published today, and copies are available in the Vote Office.
§ Sir E. BoyleCan my right hon. Friend say whether he is yet in a position to make any statement, or whether the Government accept the recommendations in the Report?
§ Mr. ButlerI am at present considering this Report, which is not unanimous. The subject, as the House knows, is a complicated one and the views of traders may well differ. I shall, therefore, be ready to consider any representations that those concerned may wish to make to me in the near future.
§ Mr. JaySo far as this Report may recommend changes in the law, will the Chancellor not exclude the possibility of including them in the later stages of the Finance Bill?
§ Mr. ButlerThe whole question of this Report came before me at the time when I had to decide to publish it, and when I could not take any action on any draft of the Finance Bill. The question of future legislation must be left for the moment, but I have noted what the right hon. Gentleman has said.