Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 29 Ebrill 1948.
Sir Isaac Pitman
, Bath
12:00,
29 Ebrill 1948
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what is the cost in a full year of exempting stationery from Purchase Tax.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
About £18 million.
Sir Isaac Pitman
, Bath
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what is the net annual cost of exempting stationery from Purchase Tax after deducting the increase in expenditure by central and local government due to the Purchase Tax on station cry so purchased and after deducting the decrease in revenue from Income Tax, Surtax and Profits Tax due to the Purchase Tax on stationery being chargeable against profits liable to such taxes.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
This information is not available.
Sir Isaac Pitman
, Bath
Is the Financial Secretary aware that 96 per cent. of such stationery, by volume and by value, is sold to Government, or quasi-Government, bodies, and to firms who are bearing taxes of that nature, and the working out of an estimate is not particularly difficult?
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
If the hon. Gentleman knows the answer, I wonder why he put the Question down.
Sir Isaac Pitman
, Bath
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what is the total cost to the nation in a full year for collecting Purchase Tax on stationery, not only to His Majesty's Customs and Excise, but also to the manufacturers and suppliers of stationery who collect and pay it.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
This information is not available.
Sir Allan Noble
, Chelsea
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer whether he is satisfied that the increase to 100 per cent. in the Purchase Tax on gas water-heaters will not result in a greater proportionate consumption of solid fuel; and if he will make a statement.
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
It is hoped that the tax will deter the installation of appliances which make fresh demands on our limited gas supplies. There will be the opportunity for any statement that the House may require when the proposals in the Finance Bill are under discussion.
Sir Allan Noble
, Chelsea
Could the Minister say whether that view is shared by the Minister of Fuel and Power?
Sir Martin Lindsay
, Solihull
Will the Minister explain why these items are regarded as luxuries, since people have to have hot water, when refrigerators are taxed at only 33⅓ per cent.?
Mr William Hall
, Colne Valley
These are matters that can be better discussed when we reach the Committee stage of the Finance Bill.
Mr Thomas Skeffington-Lodge
, Bedford
Does that reply take into account the fact that gas is being produced from solid fuel in this country?
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
