§ Rear-Admiral Morgan-Gilesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will amend the VAT regulations to allow refunds for "do-it-yourself" house builders to be applicable previous to 13th November 1974.
§ Dr. GilbertClause 3 of the Finance Bill prescribes that refunds of VAT may be made for purchases of materials made by "do-it-yourself" house builders on or after 13th November 1974, the date of the announcement of the proposal by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General. The regulations for refunds cannot be made until the Bill becomes law. We recognise that the choice of 13th November would not be of benefit to people who had completed their houses before that date, but it would be difficult to prevent abuse of a retrospective scheme.