22 MARCH 1975, Page 5

VAT and the arts

From Robert Kilroy-Silk, MP Sir: In his article on the Arts and VAT (March 1), Mr Ernie Money said that the Minister for the Arts, Mr Hugh Jenkins, has been suggesting that we have to wait for a harmonisation of policies within the EEC before the arts can be relieved from VAT.

This is not so. If Mr Money would care to look again at Hansard he will see that Mr Hugh Jenkins has never said that we will have to wait for the EEC before we relieve the arts of VAT.

The Minister's warning is quite different. What he has been saying is that even if we take VAT off the theatre and also remain in the EEC we may have to put VAT on again when 'harmonisation day' arrives.

Robert Kilroy-Silk House of Commons, London SW1