HC Deb 18 November 1976 vol 919 cc678-9W
Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of the average weekly household expenditure on food items is now subject to VAT.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

It is estimated that VAT is charged on about 20 per cent. of consumers' expenditure on food.

About half of this taxable expenditure is on meals out including drink served with the meal.

Mr. Woof

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in the cost of collecting revenue of value added tax, since 1973–74 and to the latest available date.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

The cost of administration per pound collected was 2.4p in 1973–74, when less than a full year's revenue was collected. Since then it has been about 2p.

NET ACQUISITIONS OF FINANCIAL ASSETS AS A PROPORTION OF GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST
Per cent.
1948 1949 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954
Personal sector … .. .. .. .. -0.27 -0.62 -200
Overseas sector* … -1.56 -1.37 -3.80 2.51 -1.16 -0.96 -0.73
Company sector … .. .. .. .. 5.11 4.59 4.51
Public sector … .. .. .. .. -3.92 -4.64 -2.72
Per cent.
1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960 1961
Personal sector … 1.69 0.13 -0.10 -0.67 -0.40 1.19 2.39
Overseas sector* … -0.91 -1.12 -1.19 -1.68 -0.72 1.07 -0.09
Company sector … 2.84 2.70 2.14 2.65 2.24 1.39 -0.15
Public sector … -2.31 -2.94 -2.71 -2.19 -2.60 -309 -3.04
Per cent.
1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968
Personal sector … 1.88 1.80 2.00 3.06 3.43 2.64 1.72
Overseas sector* … -0.50 -0.48 1.20 -0.08 -0.30 -0.84 -0.72
Company sector … -0.30 1.57 -0.50 -0.46 -0.64 -0.21 —
Public sector … -2.06 -3.04 -3.39 -2.69 -2.89 -4.66 -3.01
Per cent.
1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975
Personal sector … 1.96 2.88 1.61 2.42 3.84 6.94 6.67
Overseas sector* … -1.15 -1.66 -2.19 -0.28 1.23 4.57 1.78
Company sector … -1.31 -2.61 -0.43 1.63 -0 08 -4.27 -0.63
Public sector … -0.84 1.61 -0.63 -3.09 -4.51 -7.07 -8.80
* Equals, apart from the change of signs, the current balance of payments accounts plus capital transfers.

Sources: National Income and Expenditure Blue Books.

Estimates, for sectors other than the overseas sector, consistent with figures for the later years are not readily available for the years 1948 to 1951 inclusive.