HC Deb 15 June 1971 vol 819 cc222-3
22. Mr. Ashton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual cost to the Exchequer of tax relief or concessions to employers for the provision of canteen meals and luncheon vouchers.

Mr. Higgins

Expenditure by employers on canteen meals is not known separately from other business costs. The extra tax that would accrue if the expenditure on luncheon vouchers were disallowed and no other expenditure was substituted is estimated at £7 million.

Mr. Ashton

I suggest that the Minister has rather dodged the Question by giving that answer. Has the hon. Gentleman seen column 48 of HANDARD yesterday where the Secretary of State for Education said that the subsidy on school dinners is only £5 million a year? Does he agree that subsidy for dinners in industry is costing the Exchequer more than that amount? If industry can have this subsidy for meals, surely it should be given to schoolchildren as well.

Mr. Higgins

I think I gave a very clear answer to the hon. Gentleman's Question. I sought to give him the fullest possible answer that I could. The other point raises a different question.