§ Mr. Fieldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what will be the effect of the increase in value added tax on the put., chasing power of a single person, a childless married couple, a couple with one and two children aged under 11 years, a 310W couple with one and two children aged over 11 years who require non-zero rated clothing, a couple with two children aged under 11 years and two aged over 11 years who require non-zero rated clothing at average earnings, half average earnings, two-thirds average earnings and twice average earnings.
§ Mr. Peter ReesI regret that information is not available from which to make such detailed estimates.
§ Mr. Kilroy-Silkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the increase in VAT applies to all existing television rentals
§ Mr. Peter ReesI will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Ernie Robertsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will exempt commercial coin-operated launderettes from value added tax, in view of the fact that the use of such establishments is largely by those sectors of the community least able to afford the tax.
§ Mr. Peter Rees, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 27 June 1979], gave the following answer.
No. I am afraid that in a broadly based tax such relief could not be justified.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated cost of zero rating repair and replacement building work.
§ Mr. Peter Rees, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26 June 1979], gave the following answer:
Information in the precise form asked for is not available but the cost of zero rating from VAT repair, maintenance and decoration of buildings would be about £300 million in a full year at the new rate of VAT introduced in the Budget.
§ Mr. Nicholas Wintertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received about the zero rating of repairs and replacement building work in order to maintain the standard of housing stock.
§ Mr. Peter Rees, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 26 June 1979], gave the following answer:
311WRepresentations urging such zero-rating have generally expressed concern about the increasing cost of necessary building repair and maintenance work. Relief has been sought particulary for work on churches and historic houses, in the interest of preserving the national architectural heritage.