Introduction Background Note
8.Section 50 FA 1973 provides temporary statutory effect to House of Commons resolutions for stamp duty. The principal practical application of this is to allow the Government to vary or abolish stamp duty on a provisional basis between the Budget and the enactment of the Finance Bill.
9.Under current legislation, such a resolution will fall if Parliament is prorogued. This became an issue when the Government moved to spring to spring parliamentary sessions, as it is now more likely that Parliament will be prorogued in May, between Budget Day and Royal Assent to the Finance Bill.
10.These changes will ensure that a resolution for stamp duty will remain effective until replaced by an Act of Parliament.  It will bring the provisions regarding resolutions for stamp duty into line with the changes made for other taxes in the Provisional Collection of Taxes Act 1968 by Finance Act 2011.