HC Deb 16 April 1973 vol 855 cc14-5W
43. Mrs. Renée Short

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the operation of VAT to date.

Mr. Cordle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on progress on the implementation of value added tax; and whether he is satisfied with its working so far.

Mr. Higgins

I would refer the hon. Member and my hon. Friend to the answer I gave on 11th April to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Exchange (Mr. Parry).

Mr. Redmond

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated revenue which will be obtained from value added tax on motor vehicles in the current financial year and in a full year, respectively.

Mr. Higgins

No such estimate for the current financial year has been made. The full year net yield of value added tax from motor vehicles is estimated to be about £230 million.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what advice the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries gave Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in February 1973 on the likelihood of loss to the country of objects and works of art if they were subject to value added tax.

Mr. Higgins

It is not customary to publish information of this kind.

Mr. John Page

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which non-medically registered services are subject to VAT; and how much it would cost, respectively, to allow these to become zero rated or exempted for VAT purposes.

Mr. Higgins

The services provided by the persons registered or enrolled in the registers referred to in Items 1 and 3 of Group 7, Schedule 5 to the Finance Act 1972 are exempt from value added tax: services in this field of persons not on these registers are in principle sub-pect to the tax at the standard rate. Information is not available on the cost of relieving non-medically registered services from VAT.

Mr. Carter

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he intends to reply to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield's letter to him on the subject of advertising relating to VAT and the Birmingham Evening Mail and Birmingham Post: and if he will make a statement.

Mr. Higgins

I sent the hon. Member a reply on 11th April.

Mr. David Steel

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is prepared to offer any concessions from VAT to hostels providing accommodation and catering facilities to overseas students.

Mr. Higgins

There is no distinction in VAT legislation between overseas students and United Kingdom students, and I am not satisfied that a case has been made out to introduce such a distinction.

Mr. Faulds

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Customs and Excise authorities intend to reply to the representations from the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries about zero-rating for purchases by museums.

Mr. Higgins

My noble Friend the Paymaster-General has written to the Standing Commission.