§ Mr. Carter-Jonesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from sporting organisations regarding the impact of value added tax on sport; if he will give favourable consideration to such representations; if he will give a breakdown of the cost of value added tax to sport; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Higgins:My right hon. Friend has received a large number of representations about the impact of value added tax on sport. The points made were carefully considered in framing the proposals in the Finance Bill. No detailed breakdown of the yield of VAT from various sports is available. VAT is a tax on consumer expenditure and taxable sports organisations will be able to deduct, against the tax on their admission charges, the VAT charged to them on their expenditure. Large numbers of sports clubs and societies of all kinds will come within the scope of the exemption for organisations whose turnover in taxable goods and services does not exceed £5,000 per annum.