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Prime Minister's question asked in the House of Commons, by Ann Winterton (Conservative). It was answered on Wednesday, 10 March 2010 on behalf of the Prime Minister.


Engagements

Question
Will the Prime Minister give an unequivocal commitment that no Labour Government will renege on the opt-out negotiated in the 1972 European Communities accession treaty to zero-rate value added tax on food, children's clothes, newspapers and books?
Answer

We made a decision in November not to go ahead with VAT, but to go ahead with a national insurance rise. In fact, traditionally the party that has raised VAT is the Conservative party. The Conservatives raised it from 8 to 15 per cent., and then to 17.5 per cent. The Tory tax is VAT, and they have imposed it many, many times.


Secondary information

Type
Oral question
Reference
507 c296 
Session
2009-10
Oral question type
1st Supplementary
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
VAT
Link
View this Prime Minister's question on www.publications.parliament.uk