§ Mr. Squireasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate the Government have made of the disincentive effect that the imposition of 15 per cent. VAT upon housing repair and maintenance work will have upon householders who were intending to improve the fabric and state of repair of their homes; and what steps he will undertake to counter the impact of this measure upon the drive to renovate the hard core of 3 million houses which are substandard or in serious disrepair.
§ Mr. Geoffrey FinsbergThe effect of the increase in the rate of VAT payable will be counterbalanced by the fact that, through income tax changes, householders will be left with more of their own money to spend.