§ 3.5 p.m.
VISCOUNT MERSEYMy 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 can give an assurance that neither existing holders nor new buyers of National Savings Certificates will be subject to capital gains tax.]
§ THE PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY, BOARD OF TRADE (LORD RHODES)My Lords, certain information about the proposed taxes will be made available by the Chancellor of the Exchequer next Tuesday, but I must not anticipate that information by saying exactly what question will or will not be answered.
VISCOUNT MERSEYMy Lords, I should like to thank the noble Lord for the information which he has given. We are all pleased to hear that at last we shall be told something next Tuesday. But I hope the noble Lord realises—
§ THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (THE EARL OF LONGFORD)My Lards, may I interrupt the noble Viscount to ask him to put his remarks in the form of a question?
VISCOUNT MERSEYI hope the noble Lord realises—or, does he realise, if the noble Earl the Leader of the House prefers it that way—that this delay and these evasive answers a re hardly helpful to the National Savings Campaign, which I think all noble Lords on both sides of the House are anxious to promote?
§ LORD RHODESMay I say to the noble Viscount that another opportunity will exist later on to day to air this subject?