§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for 1979 and 1987–88 the number of cases of tax fraud detected for which the amount recovered exceeded(a) £100,000, (b) £500,000 and (c) £1,000,000.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 8 May 1989]: The numbers of settlements in cases of tax fraud, categorised by the amounts recovered, including appropriate interest and penalties, were:
1988–89 £ 100,000 – 500,000 517 500,001 – 1,000,000 32 over 1,000,000 18 Figures for earlier years could be provided only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mr. Nicholas BrownTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in theOfficial Report the total number of Inland Revenue staff currently employed in investigating tax fraud, and the number employed in 1979.
§ Mr. Norman Lamont[holding answer 8 May 1989]: Inland Revenue resources, expressed as units of full-time staff, employed in investigating tax fraud are:
Number Year to 31 October 19801 1,265 Year to 31 March 1989 2,752 1 The earliest year for which figures are available.
Estimated Number of Tax Units1 (millions) Not liable to income tax Liable to income tax at reduced rate only Liable to income tax at basic rate (excluding higher rate taxpayers) Liable to income tax at higher rate All tax units Aged2 units 1978–79 4.4 1.0 1.4 0.1 6.9 1988–89 5.0 — 2.4 0.2 7.6 1989–90 4.9 — 2.4 0.2 7.5 All tax units 1978–79 7.7 3.1 17.6 0.7 29.1 1988–89 110 — 19.9 1.3 32.2 1989–90 11.0 — 19.8 1.5 32.3