HC Deb 20 June 1996 vol 279 cc556-7W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many letters his Department received in 1994(a) objecting to and (b) supporting the proposed closure of Dewsbury tax office. [33623]

Mr. Jack

The Inland Revenue has received 60 letters objecting to the proposed closure of Dewsbury tax office and none supporting it.

Mrs. Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of the move of the Dewsbury tax district office from Dewsbury to Leeds. [33624]

Mr. Jack

The proposal to move Dewsbury tax office to Leeds is at an early stage and it is not possible at present to estimate the costs of this.

Mrs. Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost of running a tax shop in Dewsbury. [33625]

Mr Jack

The initial estimate of the annual cost of running a tax shop in Dewsbury is £90,000.

Mrs. Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people whose tax is currently handled by the Dewsbury tax office will be self-assessed for taxation in(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98 and (c) 1998–99. [33626]

Mr. Jack

Some 15,500 individuals whose tax is currently handled by Dewsbury tax office will become self-assessed for taxation in 1996–97. It is unlikely that this number will change significantly in 1997–98 and 1998–99.

Mrs. Taylor

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people have visited or telephoned the Dewsbury tax office, for information or advice in each of the tax years to April 1995 and April 1996. [33627]

Mr. Jack

Details of the number of people who visited or telephoned the Dewsbury tax office and tax inquiry centre in the years ended April 1995 and April 1996 are as follows:

Year to Personal callers Telephone inquiries
April 1995 9,132 53,074
April 1996 9,442 56,203