§ Mr. Llewellynasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give particulars of variations in the tax on harps and harp strings since it was first levied to date.
§ Mr. SimonPurchase Tax was first imposed on harps at the rate of 33⅓ per cent. of the wholesale value by the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1940. Subsequent variations have been as follows:—
Finance Act,1942 66⅔ per cent. Finance Act, 1943 100 per cent. Finance Act, 1946 33⅓ per cent. Finance (No. 2) Act, 1947 50 per cent. Finance Act. 1948 66⅔ per cent. Finance Act, 1953 50 per cent. Finance (No. 2) Act, 1955 60 per cent. Budget Resolution, 1958 30 per cent. The rate of tax on harp strings has been the same as that on harps except during the period 1943 to 1946 when under the Purchase Tax (Alteration of Rates) (No. 1) Order, 1943, it was reduced to 33⅓ per cent.