HC Deb 29 November 1955 vol 546 c180W
56. Mr. Sorensen

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer approximately how many British citizens or their foreign wives bringing wedding presents into this country in the past year, when about to reside here, have been compelled to pay duty on these gifts; how many complaints he has received on this matter during the past year; and, in view of the hardship caused to those who have genuinely been recipients of such gifts by their having to pay duty, if he will consider devising a means by which wedding gifts are vouched for and duty waived on these if under a reasonable level of value.

Mr. R. A. Butler

I have no record of the number of such cases that occur, but complaints are infrequent. In fairness to couples getting married here, whose presents have to bear Purchase Tax and sometimes Customs duty, I do not think that the proposed concession could be justified.