HC Deb 15 December 1978 vol 960 cc663-5W
Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the practice of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue to waive payments of interest on valuations for capital transfer tax purposes computed in respect of works of art and museum objects accepted in satisfaction of such tax, the interest in question being that calculable in respect of the period elapsing between the receipt of an offer of a work of art or museum object in satisfaction of tax and its acceptance ; and whether he will give instructions that the commissioners should not in future refuse to waive such payments in any but exceptional circumstances.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

current prices only. Any differences between the percentages at current prices and constant prices would depend largely on the choice of deflator for the numerator and would, therefore, have little significance.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in accordance with the recommendation in the Third Report from the Expenditure Committee, Session 1977–78, dealing with the National Land Fund, he will revise the administrative rule whereby works of art and museum objects accepted in satisfaction of capital transfer tax are without exception removed from their original location after such acceptance ; and whether he will make provision for this rule to be relaxed in exceptional circumstances, in order to make it possible for such items to remain on deposit in their original location for as long as he is satisfied that regular and secure public access can be ensured.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in accordance with the recommendation in the Third Report from the Expenditure Committee, Session 1977–78, dealing with the National Land Fund, he now proposes to revise Inland Revenue Form 700A, being the undertaking required from applicants for exemption from capital transfer tax on works of art and museum objects, in so far as it concerns the fourth alternative condition relating to reasonable public access ; and, if an alteration in the undertaking in this particular respect is envisaged, when he anticipates that the revised form of undertaking will be available.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.