(except clauses 4, 5, 20, 28, 57 to 77, 86, 111 and 282 to 289, and schedules 1, 3, 11, 12, 21 and 37 to 39) - Clause 84 - Charge to income tax by reference to enjoyment of property previously owned
Finance Bill
2:30 pm
Mr Howard Flight (Shadow Chief Secretary To the Treasury, Economic Affairs; Arundel and South Downs, Conservative)
The point is not immediately relevant, but I do not agree. If the hon. Gentleman had read his literature, he would have discovered that even in 1800 virtually every historic house was open to any member of the public who cared to knock at the front door. The tradition of houses being open to the public, which I do not deny has been put on a commercial basis, is long established. It is a mistake to believe that the collective social interest in the historic homes of this country does not go back a very long time.
The point that I seek to make—this is slightly irrelevant—is that the arrangements that we are discussing cause problems and in various ways are likely to lead not to more houses being open, but if anything to the reverse. I am sure that hon. Members
of all parties would agree that we want to see our historic assets preserved and available to those who want to visit them.