§ Ms. Harmanasked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate his Department has made of the effect upon local newspapers which have a cover charge of the imposition of value-added tax on their newspaper sales and advertising; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontNone. But the Newspaper Society, which I have recently met at its request and whose members comprise the majority of local newspaper publishers, has commissioned work on the subject. It intends sending its conclusions to Ministers in due course.