HC Deb 14 July 1988 vol 137 c309W
53. Mr. Amess

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received in favour of zero rating value added tax on hospital radio broadcasting equipment.

Mr. Lilley

My right hon. Friend has received no further representations since the reply I gave to my hon. Friend on 16 June at column262.

71. Sir John Farr

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will include the Meat and Livestock Commission in the list of public bodies able to recover value added tax on their non-business expenditure.

Mr. Lilley

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for South Shields (Dr. Clark) on 12 July at columns99–100.

Mr. Spearing

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what provisional or other timetable has been proposed by the Presidency or Commission of the European Economic Community, or proposed or adopted to or by its Council of Ministers, in respect of the harmonisation of value added tax of those funds, goods and services zero rated or exempt in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Lilley

[holding answer 11 July 1988]: The European Commission considers that member states' VAT rates should be "approximated" by 31 December 1992; but successive European Councils have not regarded tax approximation as a priority area and have set no specific timetable. The United Kingdom Government have made it clear that they do not consider tax approximation to be necessary for the completion of the single market. It could not be introduced without unanimous consent of all member states.