Clause 14. — (Abolition of Charge on Owner-Occupiers.)

Part of Orders of the Day — Finance Bill – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 16 May 1963.

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Photo of Mr Cyril Bence Mr Cyril Bence , Dunbartonshire East 12:00, 16 May 1963

It is obvious that this hypothetical man with his hypothetical family living in a hypothetical big house could have a hypothetical bank balance of £3,000, but could not afford to keep up a big house. A man can have a few thousand pounds in the bank, but still not be able to afford to run a mansion. We must not assume that because a man cannot afford to run a mansion he has not any money. I can afford to run a small house, but not a big one. Because I cannot afford to live in a 20-room mansion in Berkshire, it does not mean that I have not got two ha'pennies for a penny. I might be able to buy a cottage in the country, or to buy two cottages.

I cannot quite accept all this; I am not yet satisfied. I hope that my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Houghton) will give us further explanation, because I am sure that my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr. Mitchison) would not put down such an important Amendment without considering the matter. Doubts have been raised in my mind because of the extraordinary situation presented by the Minister and I hope that we shall have clarification of these very hypothetical situations.