§ 39. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that sales of gramophone records per 1,000 heads of population amount to £498 in New Zealand. £422 in the United States of America and £205 in the United Kingdom, whereas domestic rates of indirect taxation on gramophone records are much higher in the United Kingdom than in the other countries named; and, having regard to the importance of 652 gramophone records for cultural, educational and recreational purposes, and the low level of United Kingdom sales figures, compared with the other countries named, whether he will forthwith substantially reduce the impost on gramophone records.
§ The Economic Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Anthony Barber)My right hon. Friend is not prepared to anticipate his Budget decisions.
§ Mr. NabarroIs my hon. Friend aware that views have been expressed in all parts of the House as to the undesirability of placing this swingeing tax on culture, and as it has never been the policy of any Government in this country to place a Purchase Tax on books, for example, why should a tax of 50 per cent. be continued on gramophone records?
§ Mr. BarberI am sure my right hon. Friend will bear in mind what my hon. Friend has said. However, I think it fair to point out that it is hardly true to say that this tax is imposed solely in respect of culture. There are other gramophone records of the "pop" character which also sell in this country, as I am sure my hon. Friend is aware.