Selective Employment Tax and Purchase Tax (Hansard, 4 March 1969)

§ 28. Mr. Peter Mills
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will undertake to replace the selective employment tax and purchase tax by some form of general sales tax in his forthcoming Budget.

§ Mr. Diamond
rose—

§ Mr. Harold Lever
Estimates for the——

§ Mr. Diamond
I am answering Question No. 28, Mr. Speaker.
The hon. Member will not expect me to anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.

§ Mr. Mills
Will the Minister bear in mind the very unfair Selective Employment Tax which discriminates against one of our biggest currency earners—the tourist industry?

§ Mr. Diamond
The hon. Gentleman will be aware of the great steps which have been taken by the Government to help the tourist industry.

§ Mr. Iain Macleod
On a point of order. Mr. Speaker, would you instruct Treasury Ministers at 3.30 to answer some of the Questions that, owing to their incompetence, have been passed over in the last few minutes?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is a good point, but I have no power to instruct Ministers.

§ Mr. St. John-Stevas
Further to that point of order. Is it not a gross contempt of the House for a Minister to appear so ill-prepared?

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Sir Brandon Rhys Williams to ask Question No. 29.

§ Dame Irene Ward
On a point of order. Would it not be better if the Chancellor of the Exchequer gracefully asked the permission of the House to continue answering the Questions which he has missed?

§ Mr. Speaker
No doubt the Chancellor heard what the hon. Lady said.

§ Mr. Alison
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Points of order cut out hon. Members' Questions.

§ Mr. Alison
Mr. Speaker, will you ask the Chief Secretary to check whether he gave the right answer to Question No. 28? I believe that it should have come from the Financial Secretary.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Sir Brandon Rhys Williams to ask Question No. 29.