HL Deb 12 March 2001 vol 623 cc72-3WA
Lord Freyberg

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Further to the Written Answer by Dawn Primarolo on 5 February (HC 412–413W), why no accurate estimates have been made of the potential cost to public funds of extending Section 33 of the Value Added Tax Act 1994 to cover museums and galleries; and whether they will research and publish such figures. [HL656]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

In his Budget speech, the Chancellor announced a new scheme that will allow the main national museums and galleries to provide free admissions and still recover the VAT they incur on the things that they buy. This will remove the VAT incentive for museums to charge for admissions. The Government estimate that the new scheme will cost around £15 million per year.