§ Mr. Geoffrey Lloydasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has taken note of the sharp drop in the number of gold and silver items submitted by manufacturers to the Birmingham Assay Office, and of the possibility of unemployment in the jewellery trade; and whether he will review his Budget decision to increase Purchase Tax on such items to 50 per cent.
§ Mr. Harold LeverI have taken note of recent Press reports on this subject. I shall, of course, take all relevant considerations into account when the Purchase Tax is next under review.