Ha
and
cent.
+7
+9
-7
-6
the
145
Written Answers
27 MARCH 1979
Bishop on 23 March and explain that the call reflected the Government's deci- sion to resume normal relations with the Grenada Government. The Grenada Government have undertaken to hold free and fair elections shortly.
Hong Kong
Mr. Parry asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs
Written Answers
116
Ale
if he will list in the Official Report far. each year since 1974 the monthly averageR£XVV... industrial wage for all workers, he average joint family income and the fe- tail price index in Hong Kong for these years taking 1974 as base 100.
Mr. Luard, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20 March 1979; Vol. 964, c. 539], gave the following informa tion:
AVERAGE MONTHLY INDUSTRIAL WAGES
All employees
INDEX
31 MAR 1979
tate
the
Tot
September 1974
elsh
September 1975
ild's
September 1976
September 1977
September 1978
ked
as
Average Monthly Wages in Manufacturing and Service Industries
September 1974
September 1975
TH
September 1976
September 1977
September 1978
alth
has
ser-
it of
HK3
697
724
834
935
1,080
Average Monthly Household Income
HKS
of
1974
1975
n.a.
n.a.
July 1976
1,425
August 1977
1,612
August 1978
1,895
at.
Consumer Price Index
bers
1974
100-0
d to
1975
1976
ved
1977
Oblic
1978
100.6 104-0 110-1 115.6
after
s of
inde-
1 to lain-
ently
ants'
of an
we.
etary ealth ents, tions
the
meat
a for ance-
aaica,
jcom- Mr.
South Africa
Mr. Lee asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will review the status of diplomats from South Africa accredited to the United Kingdom in the light of evidence disclosed in the Muldergate" affair; and if he will make a statement.
66
Mr. Rowlands: My right hon. Friend will of course give full consideration to the implications of any relevant evidence.
NATIONAL FINANCE
House of Lords (Member's Fares and Allowances)
Mr. Arthur Lewis asked the Chancel- lor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated savings to the Exchequer it the first class travel fare and £13-50 to £16.50 tax free allowances for Members
16 M 5
HK$ 677
HK$ 711
HK$ 822
Men
Not available Not available HK$ 968
Women Not available Not available
HK$ 748
HK$ 922
HK$ 833
HK$ 1.071
HKS 959
HK$ 1,095 HK$ 1,282
of the House of Lords were abolished and what would be the revenue secured to the Treasury if these payments were made liable to tax.
f
Mr. Robert Sheldon: The estimated saving from abolishing these allowances would be £0.8 million. As Members of the Horse of Lords do not form a separately identifiable group for the pur- poses of calculating an average marginal rate of tax, the information on which to base an estimate of the revenue from tax- ing the allowances could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. These allow- ances are not taxable because they are no more than reasonable reimbursement of expenses incurred in connection with parliamentary duties by the holders of an unpaid office.
Civil Service (Industrial Dispute)
Mr. Brotherton asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum owing to businesses in value added tax refunds which have been frozen by indus- trial action at the value added tax com- puter centre; and what steps he is taking to make alternative arrangements to facilitate such payments.
Mr. Denzil Davies: It is estimated that the total amount of value added tax in- cluded on repayment claims which can- not be processed as a result of industrial action is approximately £240 million.
Customs and Excise regret that for the time being they are unable to make repayments of VAT ; but they will do all they can to see that repayments are resumed as quickly as possible once the industrial action is over.
DATE 27/3/12
COL. 145/146
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51