§ 44. Mr. Moateasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the value added tax applied in accordance with the regulations of the Treaty of Rome would be charged on food.
§ Mr. HigginsI would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 22nd March.—[Vol. 814, c. 44.]
§ 45. Mr. Moateasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum rate of value added tax that the United Kingdom would be liable to contribute to the Community budget if Great Britain should join the European Economic Community.
The figures requested are given in the table below. Estimates of the change in purchasing power are available up to February, 1971, but the figures for changes in wages cannot at present be given beyond December, 1970. The percentage changes in prices are therefore given for both dates.
320W
To February, 1971 To December, 1970 From Purchasing power of¢* Increase in prices (per cent.) Increase in prices† (per cent.) Increase in earnings per head‡ (per cent.) April, 1970 … 94p +6.3 +4.2 +9.9 April, 1965 … 77p +30.2 +27.8 +52.9 April, 1960 … 65p +53.4 +50.5 +105.0 * Compared with 100p at the date in the first column. † Based on the movement in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years, adjusted by the changes in the Index of Retail Prices for the months at the beginning and end of each period. ‡ Changes in the earnings of full-time male manual workers up to 1969 and of all employees thereafter.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanI would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on 9th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 223.]