§ Lord Kilmanyasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether they are confident that previous forecasts of the yield of betting duty will be justified in the 391WA event and, if not, whether any estimate has been made of the amount of probable shortfall.
§ Lord CockfieldI assume that my noble friend refers to the estimate of £288 million for receipts from the general betting duty in the financial year 1981–82. This is the Budget estimate for the duty together with the estimate of the additional revenue in 1981–82 resulting from the increase on 12th July, in the rate of duty for off-course betting. It would be contrary to practice to publish revisions to the Budget estimates except when, as in July, a change is made to a rate of duty.