To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much VAT was paid per annum by a family consisting of a married man on half of average male earnings, his wife, and two children in 1978–79; and what is the most recent estimate.
I regret that reliable estimates of amounts of indirect taxes paid by families are available only for those earning between three quarters and one and a half times average male earnings. Outside this range error margins are too large for estimates to be meaningful.
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amounts of VAT paid in Wales during 1990–91; and what is the estimated figure for the current financial year.
[holding answer 3 March 1992]: Precise figures for VAT paid in Wales are not available, but it is estimated that the contribution to United Kingdom VAT in 1990–91 was around £11/2 billion. The estimate for 1991–92 is about £1·3 billion to £1·4 billion.