§ 67. Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional cost to the hospital building programme in Scotland which will result from the Selective Employment Tax.
Mr. MilanIt is not possible to give an estimate since any additional cost will depend on the extent to which firms competing for contracts are able to absorb the effects of the tax.
§ 68. Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what extra cost he has calculated will fall on industry and individuals in Scotland due to the rise in transport costs after the introduction of the Selective Employment Tax ; and how this will affect figures and forecasts in 93W the Scottish White Paper, Command Paper No. 2864.
§ Mr. WillisThe general intention of the Government is that the tax shall not bear on transport. To this end Section 2 of the Selective Employment Payments Bill provides for most establishments classified under Order XIX (Transport and Communications), with the exception of Miscellaneous Transport Services and Storage, to receive a refund of the Selective Employment Tax paid.
§ 69. Mr. G. Campbellasked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a revision of his White Paper on the Scottish Economy, a Plan for Expansion, Command Paper No. 2864, to take account of the application of the Selective Employment Tax in the Highlands and Islands.
§ Mr. WillisNo.
§ 70. Mr. Stodartasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet calculated the increased costs to producers of food in Scotland of the paying by agriculture's ancillary industries of the Selective Employment Tax.
§ Mr. WillisNo.
§ 72. Sir J. Gilmourasked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the Selective Employment Tax will add to the costs of the Forth Road Bridge Joint Board and the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board ; and whether this cost will be passed to the travelling public.
§ Mr. WillisThe costs of the two Boards should not be increased since they will qualify for repayment of the tax as local authorities under Clause 4 of the Selective Employment Payments Bill.
§ Mr. Nobleasked the Secretary of State for Scotland what extra cost will fall on public and private education in Scotland due to Selective Employment Tax ; and what steps he will take to alleviate such increases in costs.
Mr. MilanI cannot estimate this figure, but the Bill now before Parliament provides for the repayment of the Selective Employment Tax to local authorities and charities.