§ Mr. Ian BruceTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the detection of fraud by the Inland Revenue; and what tax has been recovered by such fraud investigations in the last financial year for which figures are available.
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§ Mr. Norman LamontSince 1979 more Inland Revenue resources have been deployed, not just on fraud detection but on tax investigation work generally. This, together with improved case selection and working methods, has increased the yield—tax, interest and penalties—from such compliance work from £111 million in 1979 to £877 million in 1987–88. In the year to 31 March 1988 tax of £495 million was recovered through fraud investigations.