asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the value of furniture imported from non-sterling areas in the past 12 months and supplied to the hotel industry; whether any Purchase Tax was charged to the purchasers in such cases; and whether non-utility furniture produced in this country will be afforded the same concession in order that it may have a fair chance of competition with foreign imported furniture supplied to the hotel industry.

About £350,000 worth of non-Utility bedroom furniture intended for hotels has been imported from Holland. Purchase Tax has been charged on this furniture, and the last part of the Question consequently does not arise.