HC Deb 02 May 1968 vol 763 c233W
Mr. R. W. Brown

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that the small increase in Purchase Tax on furniture products is not further increased by the addition of retail mark-up.

Mr. Dell

I am making inquiries into the practice to which my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. R. W. Brown

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware of the fact that the retail mark-up on furniture products is in some cases as high as 85 per cent.; and if he will examine the factors responsible for this high on-cost.

£ million
Period: Payments of Investment Grants 1.4.67 to 31.12.67 Payments of grants under the Local Employment Acts* 1.4.60 to 31.12.67 Offers of grants under the Local Employment Acts( 1.4.60 to 31 12 67
Development Areas
Northern … … 41.0 † 26.3
Merseyside … … 21.9 27.8
South Western … … 1.2 1.4
TOTAL, ENGLAND … … … 64.1 35.2 56.1‡
Scottish … … 28.6 23.8 37.3
Welsh … … 13.6 2.9 5.7
All Development Areas … … 106.3§ 61.9 99.1‡
* Includes building grants, plant and machinery grants and grants for the general purposes of undertakings. Figures include the former development districts.
† Not available. Some indication of breakdown is given by the offer figures.
‡ Includes £0.6m. offered to projects in the former development districts not included in the development areas.
§ In addition some £650,000 was paid to the construction industry and cannot be allocated to areas.