HC Deb 31 July 1998 vol 317 cc666-7W
Mr. Nigel Jones

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was collected in value added tax from local telephone calls in each of the last five years. [54642]

Dawn Primarolo

The VAT collected from businesses classified to telecommunications as a whole is as follows:

  • 1993: £1,500 million
  • 1994: £1,400 million
  • 1995: £1,450 million
  • 1996: £1,550 million
  • 1997: £1,400 million.

Prior to 1996, telecommunications were included in the trade classification for post and telecommunications. HM Customs and Excise have therefore estimated the amount that related to telecommunications based on the yield in subsequent years. Unfortunately they are unable to estimate the amount of this relating specifically to local telephone calls.