The Prime Minister of Spain has suggested that the standard rate of value added tax (VAT) applied to goods and services could be reduced as part of a general tax reform. The Spanish government has recently raised the VAT rate on the cultural sector and has also increased income tax. The Prime Minister pointed out however that some cultural goods such as libraries are subject to a reduced VAT rate of 10 percent while books and newspapers are liable to VAT at a lower 4 percent rate.