§ 67. Sir T. Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the purchasing power of the £ today is approximately 36 as against 100 in 1914, he will give an estimate of the extent to which this reduced purchasing power is due to the effects of Purchase Tax; and of what would be the purchasing power of the £ if Purchase Tax were removed entirely.
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§ Mr. JayPurchase Tax has in all been responsible for less than three per cent. of the rise since 1914 in average retail prices, reckoned over the whole field of personal expenditure. If there were no Purchase Tax the consumer's £ would have no more than 37 per cent. of its 1914 purchasing power, compared with the 36 per cent. that it actually has.
§ 75. Mr. Gammansasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the exemption from Purchase Tax of kindergarten chairs not exceeding 15 inches in height was not continued in Public Notice No. 78 published last April; and whether, in view of the hardship this tax is inflicting on Sunday schools, he will consider renewing this exemption.
§ Mr. JayThe exemption stands and does not need renewal. But as was made clear in Notice No. 78 it does not apply to chairs suitable for domestic use