HC Deb 26 October 1977 vol 936 cc669-71W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the present figure of 15p was fixed for the tax-free value of luncheon vouchers; what would be the current equivalent having regard to the fall in the value of the £ sterling; what is his estimate of the number of taxpayers receiving luncheon vouchers

Expenditure Plans" (Cmnd. 6721—II) and are as follows:

£ million
1977–78 … … … 745
1978–79 … … … 840
1979–80 … … … 950

Mr. Spearing

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the Official Report the most detailed breakdown available of the sums allocated in the EEC budget for 1976–77 and 1977–78 for information, publicity and similar services and his estimate of the amounts spent or to be spent in the United Kingdom and the bodies to whom grants have been made.

Mr. Joel Barnett:

The amounts included in the 1976 and 1977 Community budget for information, publicity and similar services are as follows:

and of the cost to the Revenue of the concession; which other countries in the EEC operate similar schemes; what is the tax-free daily value in each such country; and why he has not increased the tax-free value in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Robert Sheldon:

In its existing form, the concession under which the first 15p of luncheon vouchers are tax-free dates from 1959. Its current equivalent as measured by increases in the retail price index would be about 57p. It is estimated that about 750,000 taxpayers receive luncheon vouchers and that the cost of the concession is about £13 million a year. Belgium, France, Germany and Ireland operate similar schemes and the tax-free daily value in those countries is 36p, 58p, 38p and 15p, respectively, subject in France and Belgium to the employee making a contribution to the cost. I do not think that an increase in the tax-free value in the United Kingdom would be justified.