§ Dr. Roger Thomasasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent value added tax is refundable on building materials and labour costs used in the repair and renovation of grade II listed buildings.
§ Mr. BrookeRepairs and maintenance of listed buildings are taxable at the standard rate. Approved alterations to such buildings are zero-rated. Refunds as such are not available, though persons registered for VAT may be able to recover all or some of any tax charged to them where the expenditure has been incurred for business purposes, by the operation of the normal input tax credit mechanism.
§ Mr. Teddy Taylorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product was taken up by public expenditure in the financial year 1978–79; and what is the estimated percentage in the current financial year.
§ Mr. MacGregorGeneral Government expenditure as a percentage of GDP was 431 per cent. in 1978–79 and rose to 46¾ per cent. in 1982–83. Since then it has fallen in each year and is expected to be 43¼ per cent. in 1986–87 and to fall to 41¼ per cent. in 1989–90. The figures were published in table 2.1 of the 1986 autumn statement.