Tuesday, 6 April 1948
The House—after the Adjournment on 25th March, 1948, for the Easter Recess—met at Half-past Two o'Clock.
[Mr. SPEAKER in the Chair]
As amended, considered; to be read the Third time.
Consideration, as amended, deferred till Wednesday, 14th April.
asked the Minister of Pensions to state the changes proposed in the administration of Ministry of Pensions hospitals after 5th July next.
asked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now in a position to make an announcement regarding the improvement in the allowances paid by his Department for the wear and tear of clothing.
asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the Somerset County Council has negotiated with his Department since December, 1946, in respect of compensation payable for removal of...
asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that two officers holding His Majesty's commission, Major C. H. H. Young and Captain Vivian, are respectively on bail and in gaol in Burma; and...
asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that an Aberdeen subaltern in the A.T.S. with a good and long record, particulars of which have been sent to him, who applied for extended...
asked the Secretary of State for War if he will advise the War Graves Commission, when it applies for a new charter for the second world war, to include in the new charter powers to enable it to...
asked the Secretary of State for War how many R.A.S.C. clerks in groups 68, 69, and subsequent groups, serving in M.E.L.F., are to be affected by the impending deferment of their release; by what...
asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware of the concern at the decision of his Department not to release the village of Imber for civilian use; and if he will reconsider the matter.
asked the Secretary of State for War if he is aware that the representatives of the Sinclair Company, engaged in oil extraction in the Ogaden have been attacked by armed bands; that, in...
asked the Secretary of State for War what is the number of German prisoners of war now in Egypt; what is the rate at which these men are being returned to Germany; and the date by which it is...
asked the Minister of Labour the average net monthly increase of manpower in the coal industry during the calendar year 1947 and the figures for January and February, 1948.
asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that Wells House Hydro, Ilkley, is standing vacant, although it was handed over to his Department in October last for the accommodation of European...
asked the Minister of Labour the number of persons employed at the Appointments Office, Cardiff; the number of persons registered as seeking suitable employment through the medium of the...
asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign chefs are registered as employed in Scottish hotels; and how many British and foreign chefs, respectively, are registered as unemployed in Scotland.
asked the Minister of Labour why his recent letter to wage councils and boards has been withdrawn; and whether he will publish the terms of this letter.
asked the Minister of Labour if he will consider the introduction of legislation to set up a special branch of the judiciary to serve as a special court of appeal in industrial disputes not...
asked the Minister of Labour whether he has considered the effect upon employment in Kingston-upon-Thames and district of the proposed removal by Messrs. Leylands of their works to Farrington,...
asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage unemployment rate for Wales as compared with England at the latest known date.
Lieut.-Commander Clark Hutchison: asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is yet in a position to make a statement in regard to increasing the security of tenure of allotment holders.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the delay in negotiating a contract with the Control Commission for Germany for the purchase of 1948 cure of herrings; that this...
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what supply is available of tractors of the type International Tractor, type 6; and why they are not being released for sale.
asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the results of the conference which he held on 22nd March with representatives of both sides of the cotton industry; and if he is satisfied...
asked the Prime Minister which of the three retired civil servants appointed to act as an appeal tribunal, for screened Communists or Fascists, has any legal qualifications.
Mr. E. P. Smith: asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount contributed to the revenue by the living theatre in the form of Entertainments Duty from the inception of tax...
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what number of Customs officials is regularly employed in manning the Customs frontier between the United Kingdom and Eire.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the popularity of the short version of the Economic Survey, he will have prepared a similar popular edition of the Budget.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions regarding the arrangements needed to finance British imports from Canada from 1st April.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the words "The N.C.B. Magazine" were printed on the covers of the first six issues of "Coal," which were published by the Stationery Office at the...
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he will now agree to waive claims for Import Duty and Purchase Tax on the nine fur coats which recently arrived in this country in the s.s....
asked he Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has made a request, similar to that made to the Federation of British Industries, to the Boards of the socialised industries to reduce voluntarily their...
asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total paper consumption in the United Kingdom in the years 1938–47, respectively; and what is estimated to be the total consumption...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the shortage of watering cans suitable for greenhouse work; if he will take immediate steps to improve the supply of these important...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available for the protection of growing crops, a supply of bird scaring ropes, the lack of which is involving Kent farmers in serious loss.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that leather stocks in the hands of boot and shoe manufacturers in some parts of the country have considerably improved; and if he will...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider permitting larger allocations of materials for the manufacture of utility mattresses and thereby establish conditions that will keep...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of he continuing shortage of text books and books in the schools of Durham County; and if he will increase the supply in the area.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the great shortage of cups and saucers in the North-East area; and if he will take steps to improve the distribution of supplies to...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the allocation of additional clothing coupons to female workers in the textile industry will have the effect of bringing thousands of...
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the new policy of the Raw Cotton Commission of bringing its selling prices into line with those at present ruling in the principal...
asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made to allow visitors from countries which are in the hard currency areas to purchase goods in shops while they are in Britain.
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now reduce the coupon points value for all footwear, in view of the greatly increased production and accumulating stocks in retailers shops.
asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that Board of Trade Notice 1865, of 16th March, affects the importation of about 100,000 trade and technical journals, magazines and...
asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how much board manilla has been allocated to Telphads Limited for advertising purposes; (2) whether, in view of the acute shortage of newsprint, he...
asked the Minister of Food what were the total exports of sugar and confectionery, respectively, to Canada during 1947 in terms of quantity and value.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, by Regulations 11 and 15 of the Fire Services (Discipline) Regulations, S.I., 1948, No. 545, he has deprived members of fire brigades,...
asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty if he will arrange for a fishery protection vessel adequately to patrol the fishing grounds of the South Cornish coast.
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether any potash was exported from Germany during the 12 months to the latest convenient date; the destination of any exports and the purpose to...
The following Question stood on the Order Paper in the name of Mr. WILLIAM Ross:
(by Private Notice) asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has any statement to make on the present situation in Berlin, including the destruction of the British passenger...
Will the right hon. Gentleman give the reply to the second part of the Question?
Edward Lancelot Mallalieu, Esquire, for the County of the Parts of Lindsey (Brigg Division).
Considered in Committee.
3.39 p.m.
The Economic Survey gives the provisional estimates for the national income and expenditure for the calendar y ear 1948. It sets out the facts as to our immediate problems and the resources which...
The very serious economic problems that confront us today fall into two broad groups; first, as to the balance of our external payments; and, second, as to the balance between our internal...
I turn, therefore, to the future—to the dimensions of our external problems in 1948, and the measures that we must take to keep the drain on our gold and dollar reserves under control. In...
Imports for the first half year have been fixed at £792 million sterling. Our import programme has been built up on three principles—the first, to buy as little as possible from...
As I have said on many occasions, the European Recovery Plan does not solve our problems or those of Western Europe. We are faced with the need to redress, within the next four years, the present...
I now turn to our internal economic situation and to the problem of securing a balance between our internal resources and the demands that are made upon them. The steps taken during the past year...
When formulating a plan which will give an over-all balance we must ask what it means in terms of manpower, and what changes it may involve in the distribution of manpower between different...
Turning to the actual working out of the plan for this year, I shall only have time today to deal with our internal position on very broad lines. There are three claims upon our available...
When we come to consider, as we must, the degree of inflationary pressure which today exists in our economy, we enter the most difficult field of economic analysis. It is not possible to give any...
I now come to a brief review of the results of the year which has just ended. These have more than justified the anticipations of my predecessor, a fact which, I am sure pleases him as much as it...
The total revenue for 1947–48 was £3,845 million, being £346 million more than the revised budget estimate of £3,499 million. Of this, Customs and Excise duties produced a...
I now turn to the Expenditure of 1947–48. Excluding £22 million for Sinking Funds, which, for technical reasons, appears in the Budget expenditure of last year, the total expenditure...
I now come to the prospects for the year 1948–49 on the existing basis of taxation. I estimate expenditure for the year at £2,976 million. This is £205 million less than last...
I now come to the estimate of revenue for 1948–49, on the existing basis of taxation. During 1948–49, Customs and Excise receipts will show the full effect of the changes in taxation...
I propose to take powers this year similar to those taken last year, to apply the Budget surplus, as it accrues, to the reduction of maturing debt. No market operations will be required this year...
The figures I have given for the realised surplus in 1947–48, and for the expected surplus on the existing basis of taxation in 1948–49, are on the conventional basis, that is they...
When we examine these figures from the point of view of their effect on the inflationary tendencies, we have to look at them in relation to the economic situation as a whole. The expenditure of...
I should, I think, at this stage, say a word here on the subject of prices, profits and personal incomes before passing on to my proposals for taxation for this year. Many people have commented...
Perhaps it would be convenient, before I come to the main items of tax changes in the Budget, to deal first with certain minor matters. There will be a few alterations on the Customs side,...
I now pass to the major proposals for the adjustment of taxation to the special needs of this year. I may perhaps repeat these needs—to give an excess of Government revenue over every kind...
First, then, I turn to Customs and Excise, and in this section I must raise a substantially increased revenue.
As the Committee is aware, the increases in Tobacco Duty last year were made with a view to producing a substantial fall in consumption, put by my predecessor as at least 25 per cent. This...
I now come to the question of Betting Duty. The collection of this duty has proved easy and profitable, and I have come to the conclusion that, in present circumstances, football and similar...
The next item is the difficult and complex one of the Purchase Tax. Almost my first experience of my present office was the widespread demand for a comprehensive review of the Purchase Tax. The...
The first matter with which I want to deal on the Inland Revenue side is one which has been much complained of, and quite rightly too; that is the extravagant way in which, in recent years,...
So far, I have indicated a net increase in revenue for this year of some £51 million, but I have to bear in mind that some moderate incentives are required to encourage production, and that...
I now come to the question of incentives, and how much of the increased surplus we can spare for this purpose. Before coming to the Inland Revenue reliefs, I will deal shortly with one or two...
I now turn to the question of direct taxation reliefs. It is very generally agreed that the incidence of Income Tax upon the medium paid wage-earner and the lower salaried members of the...
I next propose to do something for married women in industry, as we are most anxious to encourage as many married women as possible to enter industry at the present time. Today, when the wife...
Finally, I propose to widen the band of income charged at the reduced rate of tax, which will benefit most markedly those whose incomes will no longer reach the standard rate even when they work...
It is, of course, quite impossible to contemplate freeing all workers from any direct taxation; nor, I am certain, would they ask, in existing circumstances, for any such exemption. What I have...
With these reliefs, the final Budget surplus—on the orthodox lines of accountancy—comes to £789 million. The overall surplus of all Government revenue over all forms of...
No one would deny that we as a people are passing through a time of the greatest economic difficulty; but I am convinced that we as a nation are tackling our problems with a sense of realism and...
1. Tobacco (Customs)
23. Purchase Tax (Chargeable goods and rates of tax)
1. The provisions of this Part of this Table shall have effect for the construction of Part II thereof. 2. The words "First", "Second" and "Third" indicate the first, second and third rates of...
GROUP I. Garments and footwear:— (a) Articles not comprised in any of the following paragraphs of this Group First. (b) Utility fully fashioned stockings First. (c) Utility garments...
25. Charge of Income Tax
32. Special Contribution
6.18 p.m.
7.0 p.m.
Debates in the House of Commons are an opportunity for MPs from all parties to scrutinise government legislation and raise important local, national or topical issues.
And sometimes to shout at each other.
