§ Mr. David MarshallTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what assessment he has made as to the effect of the imposition of tax on car phones supplied by employers on the safety of motorists.
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§ Mr. DorrellI am not aware of any evidence which suggests that the introduction in 1991 of the standard tax charge of £200 for the private use of mobile telephones provided by employers to their employees has affected the safety of motorists.
Year Individuals paying tax1 Civilian labour force population of working age Taxpayers expressed as a percentage of the civilian labour force population of working age Year (a) Thousands (b) Thousands (a)/(b) Per cent. 1978–79 25,900 25,200 103 1979–80 25,900 25,400 102 1980–81 24,900 25,500 98 1981–82 24,800 25,500 97 1982–83 24,600 25,400 97 1983–84 24,000 25,300 95 1984–85 23,800 25,800 92 1985–86 23,700 26,100 91 1986–87 23,900 26,200 91 1987–88 24,300 26,500 92 1988–89 25,200 26,800 94 1989–90 25,000 27,200 92 1990–91 26,100 27,400 95 1991–92 25,700 27,300 94 1992–93 225,100 27,100 93 1993–94 225,100 27,100 93 1994–95 225,400 27,100 94 1995–96 226,000 27,300 95 1996–97 226,300 27,400 96 1 Including taxpayers above working age. 2 Provisional.