§ 72. Mr. Fordasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he is introducing to help those firms with very full export order books standing to lose in 1968, as a result of the withdrawal of Selective Employment Tax repayments after these had been costed into prices, and which are unable to recoup this loss by price adjustments upon existing contracts; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Harold LeverThe Government appreciates that devaluation and the consequent tax adjustments may present 69W difficulties in particular cases. However, devaluation and the Government's measures give an advantage to exports, and further effort here—even from firms which are already successful—should provide opportunities to compensate for these unavoidable difficulties.
§ Mr. Palmerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount paid to the latest available date into the Exchequer by retail co-operative societies in respect of the Selective Employment Tax and the corresponding total amount returned by way of premiums to co-operative societies engaged in manufacturing processes.
§ Mr. Harold LeverI estimate that some £14 million has been paid by these societies in respect of selective employment tax in the period of 69 weeks from the introduction of the tax to the end of 1967. The amount of refund and premiums they have received is not readily available.