§ Mr. Wyattasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the amounts paid in Purchase Tax in respect of Groups No. 26, Jewellery and Imitation Jewellery, and No. 27, Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Wares, respectively, for the years 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951 and 1952.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerI regret that separate figures of receipts of Purchase Tax from Group 26 (Jewellery and Imitation Jewellery), Group 27 (Goldsmiths' and Silversmiths' Wares) and Group 28 (Articles of ivory, jade, tortoiseshell, etc.) are not available. The following table shows estimated total receipts of tax from those three Groups together during the period in question:
Calendar Year Estimated Receipts £m. 1947 … … … 7.2 1948 … … … 7.7 1949 … … … 6.4 1950 … … … 6.6 1951 … … … 7.0 1952 … … … 7.0 These receipts accrued from tax charged at 100 per cent. except for about four months receipts at 125 per cent. in 1948.
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§ Mr. Wyattasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the payment of Purchase Tax at the rate of 100 per cent. on certain articles of jewellery has led to the decline and in some cases the cessation of manufacture of such articles; and whether he will as a matter of urgency reduce this rate of Purchase Tax before further unemployment is caused in the industry.
§ Mr. R. A. ButlerRepresentations to that effect have been made to me, but I regret that I cannot anticipate my Budget statement.