§ Mr. FisherTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will exempt cultural bodies which have charitable status from VAT on certain cultural services and goods;
(2) what considerations he has given to EC directives on VAT giving exemptions to certain cultural services and goods;
(3) whether he will exempt non-profit-making cultural bodies from VAT on certain cultural services and goods;
(4) what steps he is considering to harmonise the application of VAT to certain cultural services and goods in the United Kingdom with other EC countries.
§ Sir John CopeOn 22 July,Official Report, column 303, I announced that I would be holding discussions with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for National Heritage with a view to examining the case for exempting certain cultural services and associated goods supplied by public authorities. Discussions are continuing and when these have been completed a consultation paper will be issued to seek the views of interested parties.