§ Mr. Willsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide Purchase Tax relief for pictorial and other souvenirs of the Coronation and for decorations for the Coronation celebrations.
§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterWith certain limitations, pictures, prints, photographs (including picture postcards) and statuettes of H.M. the Queen and H.R.H. the Duke of Edinburgh will be exempted from Purchase Tax for a period of one year from 1st October next. The potential range of other Coronation souvenirs is so wide that it would be 175W very costly for the Exchequer to provide comprehensive relief and the choice is so much a matter of personal taste that it would be invidious to influence it by discriminating in favour of particular articles. But I would point out that a large variety of personal and domestic articles, which are exempt from tax for other reasons, can be got up as Coronation souvenirs without incurring tax.
Of the materials commonly used for public decoration out-of-doors, streamers and garlands of cloth, plastic material or water-proofed paper are free of tax and bunting cloth is usually of a value which entitles it to exemption from tax under the D scheme. Some flags and banners and some crowns, plaques, shields and similar decorations suitable for use in outdoor displays are at present taxed and my right hon. Friend is arranging for them to be exempted during the year beginning 1st October. He is making no special provision for private or indoor decoration since the choice is again a matter of personal taste.
Details of the reliefs I have mentioned will be found in the Treasury Order which is being laid before the House today and will be published next week.