§ Mr. Grieveasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the latest position concerning the effect of the strike in the Department of Customs and Excise upon businesses which, as a result of activities such as the export trade, have large sums in input value added tax due to them; and whether any new measures to mitigate the effects of the dispute can be introduced.
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§ Mr. Peter ReesI recognise that the suspension of repayments of value added tax is creating cash flow problems for the businesses concerned.
For details of measures already taken to mitigate the effects I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Enfield, North (Mr. Eggar) on 6 April 1981—[Vol. 2, c. 186]—and to the reply given by the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Louth (Mr. Brotherton) on 5 May.—[Vol. 4, c. 17–18.] I am keeping the situation under review.