HC Deb 30 March 1993 vol 222 cc141-2W
Mr. Alan W. Williams

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total proceeds from value added tax in each year since 1978–79, at 1993 prices; and what are the projections for each year to 1995–96.

Sir John Cope

The VAT proceeds at 1992 prices are as follows:

Year Revenue £ Billions
1978–79 13.1
1979–80 19.2
1980–81 22.1
1981–82 21.3
1982–83 23.4
1983–84 24.5
1984–85 28.4
1985–86 28.0
1986–87 30.0
1987–88 32.4
1988–89 34.8
1989–90 34.8
1990–91 33.4
1991–92 36.6
Year Revenue £ Billions
1992– 137.0
1993– 239.0
1 Latest estimate.
2 Forecast.

Forecasts are not available beyond 1993–94. 1993 prices are not yet available.

Mr. Kirkwood

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of unpaid VAT written off by HM Customs and Excise for the last five years for which figures are available.

Sir John Cope

VAT write-offs are scheduled on a calendar year basis. A "written off" amount is where, for accounting purposes, a tax liability is removed from the records. However, the liability is not extinguished and may, if at a later stage circumstances change, be resurrected. The audited figures for the last five years are:

Year £'000
1987 214,123
1988 209,471
1989 173,981
1990 208,024
1991 1512,284
1 The figure for 1991 includes some £80 million written-off following a special review of long standing debts on the VAT ledger.

Mr. Dewar

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his plans to extend VAT to domestic fuel will include standing charges on gas and electricity bills.

Sir John Cope

I refer the hon. Member to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member for Newport, West (Mr. Flynn) on 26 March at column746.

Mr. Milburn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate for each region(a) the total increase in household costs, (b) the average household cost and (c) the average proportion of household income that will be consumed by his proposed extension of value added tax to heating costs (i) in 1994–95 and (ii) in 1995–96.

Sir John Cope

[holding answer 29 March 1993]: I regret that the information requested is not available.

Mr. Nigel Griffiths

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders were deregistered for value added tax because they had ceased trading in 1990–91 and 1991–92.

Sir John Cope

The numbers of traders who were deregistered for value added tax because they had ceased trading in 1990–91 and 1991–92 are as follows:

Number
1990–91 119,486
1991–92 114,372