HC Deb 17 March 1964 vol 691 cc1161-2
7. Mr. Stainton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he hopes to publish the Report of the Richardson Committee on the implications of introducing a turnover or similar tax.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

The Report was presented to Parliament on 11th March as Command Paper 2300.

Mr. Stainton

Although the effluxion of time has somewhat taken away from the purpose of my Question, I nevertheless have a note to ask my right hon. Friend the following. First, will he convey to the Richardson Committee the House's appreciation of the expeditious way in which it has carried out its task—looking back to 3rd April last, on the one hand, and forward to April 14th of this year, on the other hand—whatever the sacred cows that might have been demolished and others created?

Secondly, is my right hon. Friend aware of the deep concern felt in many quarters of the need urgently to reappraise the whole revenue-raising base of the public sector, bearing in mind such facts as the recent Government White Paper on public expenditure and the ever-increasing—[HON. MEMBERS: "Too long."—and, in many cases, punitive rates of taxation?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

I will gladly add my hon. Friend's appreciation to that which my right hon. Friend has already conveyed on behalf of the Government to the members of the Committee, who, I think the House will agree, did a remarkable and expeditious job. I am sure that my hon. Friend will not expect me to comment on the second part of his question at this time of year.