Institute Of Public Administration (Grant)
33.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds the Institute of Public Administration was selected for a grant of £6,000 for each of the three years; and how far he intends to make similar grants to similar organisations which also recruit their members from, and take an interest in, the organisation of public services, such as the Institute of Personnel Management, the Institute of Works Managers, the Office Management Association, the Industrial Welfare Society and others.
The grant-in-aid is a temporary subvention towards the general purposes of the Institute of Public Administration. Its purpose is to help to tide over the difficulties of an Institute towards which the Government feels itself under special obligation because of the contribution it makes, by bringing together those in central Government with those engaged in other forms of public service, to the study and improvement of the practice of public administration. The Government has not the same direct obligation to the other bodies mentioned, which cater for a wider field, including industry and commerce. I ought in fairness to those bodies to add that I am not aware that any Government grant has been sought or suggested by them.
Could my right hon. and learned Friend say why a similar subvention should not be made to other societies who have a similar interest in management in public affairs, and would he give consideration to any applications made by similar organisations referred to in the Question? Is not the British Institute of Management the real Government-sponsored organisation for dealing with such matters as are now referred to the Institute of Public Administration?
As my hon. Friend knows, it has stated that it is not able to deal with public administration, because it is concentrating, in the first instance, on industrial matters and, therefore, in the meantime it is desirable that we should give this assistance.
Is my right hon. and learned Friend aware that this body is doing extremely valuable work and giving very good value for its subvention by contrast with some other bodies, like the British Institute of Management, which gets much more public money and gives much less value for it.
Used Postage Stamps
34.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps a resident in the United Kingdom is required by His Majesty's Customs and Excise to take before despatching to a foreign country a used postage stamp; and if he will explain the reason and the authority for such requirements.
The sending of used postage stamps except under licence to any destination outside the Scheduled Territories is prohibited unless the stamps are included in a package sealed and despatched by or on behalf of the Board of Trade. The British Philatelic Association has been deputed by the Board of Trade to act on its behalf and stamps sent to such a destination must go via that Association. The authority for this system is the Export of Goods (Control) (Consolidation) Order, 1948, and its object is to ensure a fair return for our exports of stamps.
If a licence is necessary for this, would it not save a lot of trouble if the Commissioners of Customs and Excise issued it instead of the Board of Trade?
It does not involve the Board of Trade. As the hon. Gentleman will see, it has been deputed to the association which deals particularly with stamps, which is much the most convenient body.
Trust Beneficiaries (Tax)
35.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why trustees' and accountants' fees are not allowed as expenses against the income of a trust, thus causing beneficiaries to pay tax on income they never receive; and if he will remedy the position.
It has been decided by the courts that a beneficiary's income from a trust for the purposes of a claim to repayment of Income Tax is his share of the income of the trust remaining after deduction of the expenses of management. I see no ground for changing the law.
Will the Chancellor say why he allows the agents' fees for the collection of rents to be charged as expenses against Income Tax, and yet will not allow accountants' fees for the collection of dividends?
This is a question of the beneficiaries. The charge of accountants' fees is probably a charge on the trustees and not on the beneficiaries.
Post-War Credits
36.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce legislation to enable him to repay Income Tax credits to men 60 years of age and to women 55 years of age in view of the hardship caused by non-receipt.
I cannot anticipate my Budget Statement.
While not wishing to embarrass the right hon. and learned Gentleman, will he say that before he gives his final approval to his Budget proposals he will make sure that this is included?
Will the right hon. and learned Gentleman also consider the widow whose husband died a very short time before he was due to draw postwar credits? There are many such cases.
Trophies (Taxation)
38.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Customs Duty and Purchase Tax are charged on trophies won in sporting events by British subjects abroad and brought back to this country.
There is a statutory exemption for trophies shown to the satisfaction of the Customs to have been awarded abroad for distinction in certain fields, including sport.
If I send to the Chancellor particulars of any cases of this sort in which duty and Purchase Tax have been charged will the money be refunded?
I will certainly look into the cases.
Anglo-Egyptian Agreement
39.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how the concessions made under the Anglo-Egyptian Financial Agreement, 1949, compares with those of the agreement of 1948; and for what reason His Majesty's Government did not see fit to press that as a condition for the conclusion of the present agreement Egyptian sterling balances should be scaled down to an equitable figure.
The 1948 Financial Agreement provided for releases of £21 million "straight" and £11 million as an addition to Egypt's working balance, making immediate releases of £32 million in all. This year's Agreement provided for an immediate straight release of £12 million and additional releases up to £18 million will be made, in amounts of £3 million, but only if and when required in order to maintain Egypt's No. 1 Account balances at £45 million. The provision of dollars this year is the equivalent of £5 million against £61 million in 1948. As regards the second part of the Question, the reason was that this is a short-term agreement. His Majesty's Government have made plain to the Egyptian Government their views regarding the adjustment of these sterling balances and have reserved their position.
The Chancellor says that this is a short-term agreement, but is it not yet another series of such agreements each of which has resulted in further grants by this country to Egypt? Is he further aware that of an anticipated trade balance of £47 million between Egypt and this country no less than two-thirds will be provided by credit from this country and that that, therefore, will result in an unrequited export?
I am quite aware of the circumstances of the agreement, which I consider wholly satisfactory.
Eastern Europe (Sterling)
40.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the quantities of sterling made available to Eastern European countries in 1946, 1947 and 1948 respectively; and of the quantities so made available how much was transferable sterling.
Sterling held by these countries or acquired in the course of trade is and has been available for expenditure within the Sterling Area, with the exception of funds remaining under the control of the Custodian of Enemy Property. Some of the countries are in the Transferable Account Area, and, as regards the remainder, permission may be granted for transfer of sterling to third countries in respect of specific transactions.
Has my right hon. and learned Friend yet taken a decision on the question of allowing British tourists to export a sterling allowance to Yugoslavia, and, if so, when will he announce that decision?
That is quite a different question. Perhaps my hon. Friend will put it on the Order Paper.
Anglo-Portuguese Negotiations
41.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reason the Anglo-Portuguese trade and financial negotiations have broken down; and, in view of the serious effect that the exclusion of many British exports from the Portuguese market will have, what action he is taking to find a mutually satisfactory solution between this country and Portugal.
The negotiations have not broken down; they are now being resumed through His Majesty's Embassy, Lisbon, and we expect shortly to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement. The interruption in United Kingdom exports to Portugal should be regarded as temporary.
Can the Chancellor say how much has already been lost through the action of the Portuguese Government in cutting off imports into their country, and how long he anticipates this state of affairs will continue?
I do not anticipate that it will last after the time when the agreement is settled up. I do not think that we have necessarily lost anything. It may be that these same goods will be imported afterwards.
May I ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer for a serious answer? The trade between England and Portugal is worth £18 million a year, and it has now been cut off. Surely the Chancellor can tell us how long he thinks we shall have to suffer from this instead of saying it depends upon how long it will take to mend the situation?
It is not a question of mending the situation. I do not expect it to last after the time when we arrive at an agreement, and I expect that to be shortly.
Is not this a matter in which people are seriously interested? Even a short interruption of valuable export trade of this kind means a great deal to us, and we are surely entitled to have from the Chancellor a serious answer to our fears. Can he assure us that within a reasonable time an agreement will be concluded which will allow this valuable export trade to be resumed?
I have already said twice that we expect shortly to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement and that we expect exports to be resumed when we have done that.
Austrian Conversion Loan (Italian Default)
42.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Italian Government are still defaulting on their guarantee to pay 20½5 per cent. on the drawn bonds of the Austrian Conversion Loan, 1934–59; and what steps he is taking to obtain repayment, in view of the fact that the United Kingdom Government is one of the guarantors of this loan.
Yes, Sir. The Italian Government's attitude was defined in the Press announcement of 13th July, 1948, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. Since then there have been no developments. We shall continue to press the Italian Government to fulfil its obligations.
Can the Chancellor confirm that of the eight countries which guaranteed this loan, Italy and Czechoslovakia are the only two in default? Can he also confirm that Italy has quite enough sterling to her credit to fulfil her obligations?
No, Sir, I am afraid that I cannot confirm that without notice.
Royalties (Bbc Programmes)
47.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what special' facilities are granted to the British Broadcasting Corporation for remitting dollars to the United States of America either directly or through the services of the Performing Rights Society for payment of royalties for American music and artistes used when broadcasting records, recorded programmes or live programmes.
None, Sir. The B.B.C. have no such facilities beyond those accorded to ordinary undertakings.
Does the Financial Secretary realise that on 26th March in one programme alone of 26 records played 24 were of American music? Will he not agree that that shows an unnecessary discrimination against English composers? Will he make representations to the B.B.C. for a fairer method of selection to be used in future so that we do not squander American dollars on royalties in this way?
Purchase Tax
48.
asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that many items, such as suspensory bandages and eye-baths, in the Schedule of surgical appliances for the National Health Service are still subject to Purchase Tax; and if he will take steps to free them from this impost.
I cannot anticipate my right hon. and learned Friend's Budget Statement.
Is not my right hon. Friend aware that it is an anomalous position at present? While drugs and medicines in the Schedule were relieved of Purchase Tax, it appears that, quite accidentally, accessories such as surgical appliances are still liable to tax.
Nevertheless, I cannot anticipate the Budget Statement of my right hon. and learned Friend.
Is it necessary for the Budget Statement to be anticipated? Cannot such a matter be dealt with by statutory order?