§ 39. Mr. Leslie Huckfieldasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for preserving the privacy and confidentiality of personal taxation information stored at Pay-As-You-Earn computer centres.
§ Mr. Maurice MacmillanPrecautions are taken to ensure that no unauthorised person gains access to information from the computer, and that the Revenue's principle of strict confidentiality is fully preserved. I am satisfied that the present safeguards are adequate.
§ 44. Mr. Fryasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the computerisation of Pay-As-You-Earn will lead to any changes in the administrative arrangements of Pay-As-You-Earn as it affects employers; and whether it has led him to reconsider the whole basis of Pay-As-You-Earn with a view to simplification.
§ Mr. HigginsThe main change for employers under the existing computer system is that P.A.Y.E. matters are dealt with at the Computer Centre instead of by local tax offices. On the question of simplification, I would refer the hon. Member to what my hon. Friend, the Financial Secretary, said in the debate on the Report of the Estimates Committee on 7th December, 1970, when he announced that work on the computer programme was being suspended for the time being.—[Vol. 808, c. 130–1.]