HC Deb 19 November 1953 vol 520 cc1896-7
40. Brigadier Medlicott

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give favourable consideration to the proposal put forward by the Retail Distributors' Association that any changes in the rate of Purchase Tax should take effect in January instead of at Budget time.

47. Mr. Cole

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange that when changes in purchase tax are made this is done in January, or at such other date appropriate to the trade concerned, when retailers' stocks are expected to be at their lowest, instead of at the time of the Budget.

31. Captain Ryder

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, when making alterations to Purchase Tax, he will arrange for this to be done on 1st January, when stocks in retailers' hands are normally at their lowest, instead of at Budget time.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on 12th November.

Mr. Cole

Will my hon. Friend bear in mind that we are drawing near to the end of the year, that this matter is one of very great concern to the traders affected, and that it would be of vital assistance if an early decision could be made?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I appreciate that, and we certainly do not underrate the importance of this matter.

Mr. Anthony Greenwood

The hon. Gentleman said that a week ago. Can he say whether the Chancellor has now stopped shuffling along from week to week and will really try to help trade and industry?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I do not know whether a question expressed in those not very courteous terms is serious or not, but I have nothing to add to the statement I have made.