asked the Minister for Finance the value added tax raised from flour confectionary, biscuits and all food items in each year since 1981.

It is not possible to furnish figures of actual yield as VAT returns are not completed in a manner which would enable the yield from particular items to be identified.

Based on non-Revenue statistical data, it is estimated that the annual VAT yield for the years since 1981 attributable to flour confectionery, biscuits and all taxable food items (other than where those goods were provided in the course of hotel and restaurant meals) was as follows: