§ Mr. Jim CunninghamTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the numbers of
286Wmanner as he did in his answer to the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. Burns) of 5 March 1992, Official Report, column 240. in respect of British Telecom. [15400]
§ Sir George YoungThe table shows the administrative costs for the sales requested.
poor people who would be assisted by the zero rating of standing charges in regard to VAT on fuel. [14980]
§ Mr. Heathcoat-AmoryZero rating of standing charges would not necessarily help the very poor who frequently are on a prepayment meter tariff which is for a single supply and does not identify a standing charge. The Government have put in place a substantial package of help for those least able to meet the increase in their fuel bills. In addition, the Government have increased funding of the home energy efficiency scheme to £100 million a year from April. The burden of VAT on fuel will bear fully only on people of working age not receiving means-tested benefits.