§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will give an estimate of the annual rise in the costs of Government telephone charges resulting upon the 10 per cent. value added tax.
§ Mr. Kenneth BakerOn the basis of the estimated total of telephone charges to Government Departments for the current year 1972–73, value added tax at 10 per cent. is likely to increase the total annual telephone charges by about £2.9 million. This amount would, of course, be offset by the increase in revenue to the Exchequer from the tax itself.