HL Deb 21 March 1962 vol 238 cc527-8

2.11 p.m.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will exempt from purchase tax electrical thermal-storage space-heating units used for industrial purposes.]

THE MINISTER WITHOUT PORT-FOLIO (LORD MILLS)

My Lords, the noble Lord will not expect me to anticipate the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Budget statement.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, while thanking the noble Lord for that anticipated reply, may I ask him, in connection with the representations which he will doubtless be making to his right honourable friend, to bear in mind that on February 28 the noble Lord assured Lord Airedale that he saw no difficulty in distinguishing between industrial and domestic space heaters, and since the industrial type always enjoyed exemption from tax there is no reason in logic, equity or justice why they should not continue to do so.

LORD MILLS

My Lords, I will bring the noble Lord's statement to the attention of my right honourable friend.

LORD HAWKE

My Lords, would my noble friend not agree that it would be greatly to the advantage of the electricity industry if not only industrial but private consumers could be induced to instal more of these thermal-storage space-heating units; and, if so, will he bring that to the attention of his right honourable friend?

LORD MILLS

I will certainly bring the noble Lord's statement to the attention of my right honourable friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer. I will even go as far as to say that I will let him have my own views.

LORD STONHAM

My Lords, is the noble Lord aware that I would entirely concur in the suggestion made by the noble Lord, Lord Hawke, in that the greater would include the lesser?