§ Mr. Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the present value of luncheon vouchers was fixed for tax purposes; what has been the increase in the average cost of the items for which a luncheon voucher may be used since that time; and what representations he has received concerning the tax concessions on luncheon vouchers.
610W
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 30 March 1979; Vol. 965, c. 377], gave the following answer:
In its existing form the concession under which the first 15p of the value of a meal voucher is not subject to tax dates from 1959. There is no information available about increases in the cost of the individual items for which the voucher may be used, but, on the basis of the change in the retail price index, the present equivalent in real terms of 15p in 1959 is about 64p. My right honourable Friend receives representations from time to time about the value of the concession.