§ Mr. Skeetasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to take any action to safeguard the interests of consumers now that the abolition of the 2d. stamp duty on receipts for £2 or more by the repeal effective on 1st 364W February, 1971 of relevant parts of the Stamp Act 1891 has removed the only legislation giving the consumer a right to a receipt.
§ Mr. RidleySection 103 of the Stamp Act made it an offence for a person to refuse to give a duly stamped receipt in cases where duty was payable. Though Government Departments have not been obliged to issue receipts, they have done so, and will continue their existing practice. I have satisfied myself that other bodies in the public sector, such as nationalised industries and local authorities, are also likely to continue to give receipts.
I am confident that the great majority of private traders will follow this lead, in the interests of maintaining good relations with their customers. We shall continue to watch the situation, however, in case the lack of a legal requirement to provide receipts causes any serious problems.