All 1 Debates between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Lord Livermore

Independent School Fees: VAT

Debate between Baroness Butler-Sloss and Lord Livermore
Monday 21st October 2024

(1 month ago)

Lords Chamber
Read Full debate Read Hansard Text Read Debate Ministerial Extracts
Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

The Government are extremely confident in our costings. We expect this policy to raise significant amounts of revenue. The Office for Budget Responsibility will certify the Government’s costings at the Budget. Of course, one keeps all tax policy under review.

Baroness Butler-Sloss Portrait Baroness Butler-Sloss (CB)
- View Speech - Hansard - -

Do the Minister and the Government realise that we are talking about not only Eton, Winchester and Westminster? There are a large number of small independent schools serving local people on relatively low fees. They are the ones that will fail, in Northern Ireland and other places. There is no point reviewing it in a year’s time—they will be closed and those children may or may not find sufficient places in the local state schools.

Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
- View Speech - Hansard - - - Excerpts

I disagree with the assumptions that underlie the noble and learned Baroness’s assumptions. As I said, some schools have already announced a very wide range of fee increases, from zero to 5% and up to 10%.