§ Mr. David ShawTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total installed base of video, pinball and amusements with prizes machines; and what are the numbers of those machines which will be liable to duty if the play price duty exemption is fixed at(a) 20p, (b) 30p, (c) 40p and (d) 50p.
§ Mr. Heathcoat-Amory[holding answer 20 February 1995]: The total numbers of installed machines are as follows: 75,000 video, 30,000 pinball and 20,000 skill with prizes machines. There are about 205,000 amusement with prizes machines. It is not possible to predict the numbers of machines which would be liable to duty at the stated play prices. It would be a matter for individual operators to take advantage of any exemption in the light of the licence cost measured against the income from the machine.
344W