asked the Minister for Finance in view of the explosion in the price level of private dwellings, if he will sympathetically consider making substantial amendments in the stamp duties code to relieve from duty the purchase of principal private dwellings with a rateable valuation of £40 or less.

The position at present is that in the case of the vast majority of new houses either a complete exemption from stamp duty is granted on the transfer or a liability to the duty arises only on the value of the site. The question of further relief is a budgetary matter.