§ Mr. Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many collection staff were working for the Inland Revenue in each year since 1980(a) in London and the south-east and (b) in the United Kingdom as a whole in the area of value added tax.
§ Mr. DorrellNo Inland Revenue staff are employed in the area of value added tax. Value added tax is entirely dealt with by Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total number of Customs and Excise officers engaged in value added tax inspections in the Doncaster area in each year for the last 10 years;
(2) what was the total number of value added tax inspections carried out in the Doncaster area by Customs and Excise officers in each year for the last 10 years.
§ Sir John CopeInformation is not available for the whole period requested. For the years to the end of March 1991, March 1992 and March 1993 Doncaster local VAT office assigned 48, 50 and 47 officers respectively to visiting duties. For the year to the end of March 1994, it is expected that 45 officers will be assigned to this work.
457WA total of 4,088 visits were carried out by those staff in the year ending 31 March 1991, 3,197 in 1992 and 2,956 in 1993. It is planned to complete some 2,500 visits by the end of March 1994. Businesses are selected in accordance with their risk profile which may vary from year to year. Better targeting of resources and the time needed to carry out each visit also has an effect.
§ Mr. WigleyTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of what proportion of the total value added tax revenue is raised in(a) Wales, (b) England, (c) Scotland and (d) Northern Ireland.
§ Sir John CopeEstimated proportions are:
Per cent. Wales 4.6 England 85.2 Scotland 8.0 Northern Ireland 2.2
§ Mr. RedmondTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the outstanding value added tax debt of registered business in the Doncaster area.
§ Sir John CopeInformation regarding total outstanding value added tax debt is not analysed by geographical areas. Providing this information for the Doncaster area would involve disproportionate cost.