§ Mr. Horamasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer of (a) allowing stock relief for the first £2,000,(b) allowing training costs to be set against any tax payable under schedule D base 1 or 11 assessment rather than against profits, (c) allowing capital expenditure similarly and (d) extending the industrial building allowance to all business premises.
§ Mr. Ridley[pursuant to his reply, 31 January 1983, c. 19]: The estimated costs are as follows:
- (a) About £30 million in a full year at present income levels.
- (b) and (c) I regret that sufficiently reliable estimates are not available; but the cost of (c) would be very large.
- (d) About £500 million to £700 million in a full year at present income levels, but the cost could increase considerably if profit levels improve.