§ Mr. Deakinsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional information about consumer prices for goods and services will be available to his Department as a result of the operation of value added tax.
§ Mr. HigginsRecords maintained by Customs and Excise for the value added tax will not provide data about changes in consumer prices.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has received the memorandum and statement of the case against the imposition of value added tax on the Hotel and Restaurants Association, forwarded by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, under date of 12th May; and what reply he has sent.
§ Mr. HigginsYes. I am sending a copy of my reply to the hon. Member.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek powers to enable him to make a financial grant towards local authorities' telephone bills after value added tax to save these costs being passed on to local ratepayers.
§ Mr. HigginsLocal authorities will be able to recover any VAT paid on their telephone bills either by way of deduction, if the charges are incurred in respect of taxable business activities or refund under Clause 15(1) of the Finance Bill if they relate to non-business activities.