§ 73. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has recently considered the question of continuing to tax Welsh harps and Scotch bagpipes at 25 per cent., whilst pianos and electronic organs are free of such duty; and what consultations he has recently had about this matter with representative bodies from Scotland and Wales.
§ Mr. BarberMy right hon. Friend is considering the representations that he has received about the tax on musical instruments irrespective of their national associations.
§ 74. Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Purchase Tax of 25 per cent. on stationery does not apply to writing paper of a size greater than 229½ square inches; and whether steps will be taken by his Department to publicise this exemption for the benefit of those who cannot afford to pay Purchase Tax on their stationery but would be prepared to buy it in a larger size and reduce it themselves to smaller dimensions, with a view to reducing the cost of living.
§ Mr. BarberCustoms and Excise Notice No. 78, which was presumably the source of my hon. Friend's information, is a public notice.
§ Mr. Nabarroasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why bull's eye lanterns, duck lamps, guards' hand lamps, and hand signalling lamps are still subjected to Purchase Tax at 25 per cent. when acetylene hand lamps and miners' safety lamps are exempt from such tax; and what would be the approximate loss to the revenue of extending exemption to such lamps.
§ Mr. BarberBecause successive Governments have not seen fit to introduce further exemptions into this Group in the Tax Schedule. As regards the second part of the Question, traders are not required to make separate returns of tax48W paid on individual types of articles and the information is therefore not available.