§ Mrs. ClwydTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the amount of provisions against third-world debts set aside by commercial banks on which tax relief was allowed in the latest year for which figures were available; and what was the total tax relief allowed.
§ Mr. MaudeI have been asked to reply.
The reduction in mainstream corporation tax receipts for 1989–90 is estimated at £⅓ billion. The corresponding provisions allowable for tax relief amount to about £1 billion.