Finance Bill

With this it will be convenient to discuss the following: Amendment 54, page 2, line 7, leave out '20' and insert '18'. Amendment 22, page 2, line 8, at end insert- '(2) Subsection (1) shall apply until 4 January 2012.'. Amendment 14, page 2, line 9, leave out subsection (2). Amendment 1, page 2, line 12, after 'made', insert 'on or after a specified date'. Amendment 41, page 2, line 13, at end insert 'unless the report referred to in subsection (6) has not been completed, in which case the date shall be 4 January 2012.'. Amendment 2, page 2, line 15, after 'imported', insert 'on or after a specified date'. Amendment 42, page 2, line 15, at end insert 'unless the report referred to in subsection (6) has not been completed, in which case the date shall be 4 January 2012.'. Amendment 3, clause 3, in page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) In subsections (3) and (4) above "a specified date" means a date specified by the Treasury by an order made by Statutory Instrument, which may not be made until- (a) an impact assessment of the effect of this section and Schedule 2 has been laid before the House of Commons; and (b) a draft of the order has been laid before, and approved by resolution of, the House of Commons.'. Amendment 23, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) The rate of value added tax shall remain at 17.5 per cent. on children's prams, cots, toys, high chairs, babies bottles, nappies, children's sanitary products and teething-related goods.'. Amendment 25, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) The Chancellor of the Exchequer must, prior to the introduction of the change to the rate of VAT specified in subsection (1) above on the date specified in subsections (3) and (4) above, compile and lay before the House of Commons a report containing an assessment of the impact of the increase in VAT on- (a) the disposable income of low-income households, (b) people with physical and mental disabilities, (c) the competiveness of the UK Retail Sector, (d) the competiveness of the UK construction industry, (e) the NHS, and (f) local government.'. Amendment 40, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) Before 4 January 2011 the Treasury shall lay a report before the House of Commons on the scope of the standard rate of VAT.'. Amendment 43, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) The Treasury shall prepare a report into the impact of the rise provided for by subsection (1) on- (a) pensioners; (b) children and child poverty; (c) inequality; (d) the bottom quintile of households by income; (e) charities, and (f) the informal economy, in the United Kingdom and lay it before the House of Commons.'. Amendment 46, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) The Treasury shall prepare a report into the impact of the increase in VAT rate provided for by subsection (1) on pensioners in the United Kingdom in 2010-11 and 2011-12; this report shall be prepared and laid before the House of Commons prior to the Commons Committee stage of any further Finance Bill that is brought before the House in the current Parliamentary session and shall propose ways in which the pensioner population of the United Kingdom can be assisted in meeting the additional costs imposed on them by the rise provided for in subsection (1).'. Amendment 55, page 2, line 17, at end add- '(6) Subsection (1) shall apply until 4 January 2013.'. Clause stand part. Schedule 2 stand part.