HC Deb 28 October 1993 vol 230 c751W
Mr. Gordon Prentice

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional revenue would be generated by extending VAT to newspapers, books and magazines.

Sir John Cope

The publication "Tax Ready Reckoner and Tax Reliefs" shows the cost of not applying VAT at the standard rate to those goods currently zero-rated. For books, newspapers and magazines the figure for 1993–94 is £1.1 billion. This figure makes no allowance for changes in behaviour.

Cash limits on Votes
Class Vote Accounting Department Description of expenditures Amount £ thousands
XIX 1 Cabinet Office Cabinet Office: Other services 868