Purchase Tax

HC Deb 14 April 1960 vol 621 c1451

8. Mr. Swingler

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what annual loss of revenue would result from the abolition of Purchase Tax on pottery.

Mr. Barber

About £2¾ million.

Mr. Swingler

When the Chancellor considers the concessions he will inevitably make during the Committee stage of the Finance Bill, will the Economic Secretary draw his right hon. Friend's attention to the fact that this tax had been abolished before the emergency Budget of 1955, that pottery is a necessity, and that the Treasury is in possession of evidence which shows the terrible harm that this tax has done to the industry?

Mr. Barber

As the hon. Gentleman knows, most pottery is now taxed at 12½ per cent. as a result of the reduction made in my right hon. Friend's Budget of last year. I understand that home market sales of pottery last year were the highest in any recent year.