Wholesalers (Tax Registration)

53 and 54.

Mr. Burden
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many wholesalers have been refused  re-registration for Purchase Tax on changing their legal status; (2) how many new wholesalers have been refused Purchase Tax registration.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
:I regret that this information is not available.

Mr. Burden
:That is not good enough. Have such instructions been issued? Have some wholesale firms been refused registration—and in the case of a change of legal status re-registration—for Purchase Tax?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter
My hon. Friend asked for certain figures. If I have not the figures I cannot, with the best will in the world, give them. I shall be happy to discuss the broader issue with him on any future occasion.

Mr. Burden
:In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.