§ Sir Anthony Kershawasked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has formed of the likely cost of 15 per cent. value added tax on the cost of building extensions and refurbishments of buildings owned by his Department in each of the next five years.
§ Sir George YoungAn initial assessment suggests that the cost to DOE votes of the extension of value added tax 233W to alterations to buildings owned by DOE will be of the order of £6 million in 1984–85 and £7 million the year thereafter. In addition, some costs in respect of DOE-owned buildings will fall on other Departments' Votes. It is not practicable to estimate these, but they are likely to amount to less than £1 million a year.