§ Mr. McMasterTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions in each year since 1980; what was the percentage increase in(a) constant and (b) actual terms in each year; when he next plans to uprate the limit; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DorrellThe table is as follows:
Advisory cost limit for answering written parliamentary questions Year Percentage increase since preceding change £ (a) At constant prices1 Per cent. (b) Actual Per cent. 19802 50 — — 1981 50 — — 1982 200 53.0 300.0 1983 200 — —
434W
Tax on excise products in November 1992 based on exchange rate on 1 October 19921 Beer Wine Spirits Cigarettes Member state VAT rate per cent. Duty per pint £ VAT rate per cent. Duty per 75cl bottle £ VAT rate per cent. Duty per 70cl bottle £ VAT rate per cent. Duty MPPC packet of 20 £ Total tax on MPPC £ MPPC price £ Belgium 19.5 0.08 19.5 0.22 19.5 3.50 12.0 1.23 1.43 1.85 Denmark 25.0 0.19 25.0 0.51 25.0 10.77 25.0 1.88 2.46 2.88 France 18.6 0.01 18.6 0.02 18.6 2.62 22.0 0.84 1.11 1.48 Germany 14.0 0.03 14.0 nil 14.0 2.89 14.0 1.15 1.39 1.92 Greece 18.0 0.05 18.0 nil 18.0 1.22 18.0 0.28 0.38 0.63 Ireland 21.0 0.52 21.0 1.63 21.0 5.98 21.0 1.42 1.85 2.45 Italy 19.0 0.09 9.0 nil 19.0 1.20 19.0 0.63 0.81 1.13 Luxembourg 15.0 0.02 6.0 0.09 15.0 2.09 15.0 0.85 1.03 1.40 Netherlands 17.5 0.09 17.5 0.22 17.5 3.20 17.5 0.80 1.02 1.47 Portugal 16.0 0.06 5.0 nil 16.0 1.53 16.0 0.73 0.88 1.12 Spain 15.0 0.02 15.0 nil 15.0 1.17 15.0 0.20 0.25 0.40 United Kingdom 17.5 0.24 17.5 0.94 17.5 5.55 17.5 1.35 1.70 2.27 1 The date used as reference point for exchange rates in European community Directives.
Year Percentage increase since preceding change £ (a) At constant prices1 Per cent. (b) Actual Per cent. 1984 200 — — 1985 200 — — 1986 200 — — 1987 200 — — 1988 250 20.0 25.0 1989 250 — — 1990 250 — — 1991 250 — — 1992 400 45.0 60.0 1 Indexed by GDP deflator. 2 Unchanged since 1965. The advisory cost limit was last increased on 14 January 1992 at column 546 and this followed a major review of costs in 1991.
The current level of £400 was fixed as a multiple of eight times the average marginal cost so that only cases of exceptionally high cost might be affected and to avoid the need for frequent small increases.
The limit may be increased from time to time in future when costs or policy suggest the need for a change.