School Fees: VAT Debate

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Department: HM Treasury

School Fees: VAT

Lord Altrincham Excerpts
Thursday 10th October 2024

(2 months, 2 weeks ago)

Lords Chamber
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Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
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The answer to the noble Baroness’s first question is no and the answer to her second question is that that is a matter for the spending review. I disagree fundamentally with her characterisation of this policy. I want to see excellence in education for children in places like where I grew up, whose parents will never be able to afford to pay for their education. They are every bit as ambitious for their children as any other parent.

Lord Altrincham Portrait Lord Altrincham (Con)
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Will the Minister confirm that any gains from this policy will accrue to the education budget and that any shortfall will be met by the education budget? Will he commit to sharing with this House the OBR’s impact assessment of the number of pupils moving from the private sector to the state sector and the number where the overall policy would be at a fiscal cost to the Exchequer?

Lord Livermore Portrait Lord Livermore (Lab)
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There were several questions there. Yes, this money will go to the state sector; I do not accept that there will be any loss from this policy; and yes, the OBR will publish the impact assessment alongside the Budget.