§ 3.16 p.m.
§ LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether it is intended to impose VAT on books.
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, the Government have no plans to impose value added tax on books, magazines or newspapers which are currently zero rated.
§ LORD STRABOLGIMy Lords, I thank the noble Earl for that reply. Arising out of it, may I ask the Government, bearing in mind that books have always been free of purchase tax in this country, even during the darkest days of the war, to do their utmost to persuade other E.E.C. countries to harmonise with us, so that eventually books may be zero rated throughout the Community?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, I will. I would suggest to the noble Lord that if his colleagues would be prepared to send people to Europe, they might also carry on the good work.
§ LORD SHACKLETONMy Lords, may I ask the noble Earl whether he will resist the temptation to tease the Opposition on these occasions, which he is entitled to do, and face the very serious point which was raised by my noble friend? And would the noble Earl also ask the Government to follow his example?
THE EARL OF GOWRIEMy Lords, the Government take the question very seriously, and I have given a very serious and straightforward answer.
§ LORD MAYBRAY-KINGMy Lords, is the noble Earl aware that the librarians of the country, both public and private, will be delighted at the statement he has made this afternoon? It is about a hundred years ago that we repealed the tax on knowledge, and to reinstate a new tax on knowledge would be a most pernicious thing.