§ Mr. Coombsasked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the effect on jobs of the imposition of value added tax on books, periodicals and newspapers.
§ Mr. HayhoeI have been asked to reply.
While the imposition of value added tax on books, periodicals and newspapers could lead to reductions in sales, taxation would be only one of a number of factors affecting employment and it would not be possible to determine its precise effect on the publishing and related industries.