You might have already read about the 10 Downing Street gift shop failing to pass on the VAT cut: Now it emerges that the Cabinet War Rooms are having similar problems…

from a PQ: 

Mr. (Francis) Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether the entry fees for the Cabinet War Rooms have been reduced to reflect the reduction in VAT to 15 per cent. [244785]

Barbara Follett: The Imperial War Museum has advised that the reduction in VAT to 15 per cent. has not been applied to admission prices for its branches that charge an entry fee: the Churchill Museum/Cabinet War Rooms; HMS Belfast; and Imperial War Museum Duxford. To apply the reduction would incur costs in re-printing publicity material and revising contracts with third-party ticket partners. Wherever possible, prices will be held at December 2008 levels and planned rises postponed. Where prices are increasing, these will be modest and in line with other market forces.

The Imperial War Museum has passed on the VAT reduction at shops in its branches and online…

January 30, 2009 6:09pm in UK politics | Comment