40. Mr. H. Wilsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend his proposal about the new stamp duties on house purchase so as to make it applicable immediately and not on 1st August, 1958, as proposed.
§ Mr. SimonThere would be grave and perhaps insurmountable difficulties in doing as the right hon. Gentleman suggests since the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act, 1913, does not apply to Stamp Duty; but there will be an opportunity of discussing the matter on the Finance Bill.
Mr. WilsonIs not the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that many people have already got negotiations fairly well advanced for house purchase—many of whom did not want to be forced to buy a house, but have done 1156 so—and now realise that if they could have waited until 1st August they would have saved up to perhaps £50? Will that not cause intolerable delays in the whole business of house purchase? If he cannot do this now, can he not make it retrospective to the date of the Budget?
§ Mr. SimonI know the difficulties. They were the same which led to similar proposals made to Chancellors when the duty was reduced in 1949, 1952 and 1956, but I will look further into the matter.