Independent School Fees: VAT
Debate between Lord Livermore and Baroness Butler-Sloss(2 months ago)
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Lord Livermore (Lab)
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 (CB)
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 (Lab)
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%.