HC Deb 06 May 1971 vol 816 cc437-8W
Mr. Deakins

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how soon the Treasury becomes aware of measures of tax avoidance developed after each Finance Act; and if the Treasury takes steps to close

Mr. Hayhoe

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide, from international sources, figures for the total national income of each Member State of the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom in 1958 and in 1970; and whether he can provide figures showing the percentage increase between these two dates for the seven countries concerned.

Mr. Higgins

The available figures are given in the table below. Those for the members of the European Economic Community are based on the E.E.C. national accounts 1959–69 and those for the United Kingdom on the National Income Blue Book and the latest published estimates in Economic Trends. Figures are not available on a comparable basis for the same period for all countries and the percentage increases have therefore been shown as average annual rates rather than in total for the differing periods. The figures revalued in dollars at official exchange rates are subject to the limitations mentioned in my reply to my hon. Friend's previous Question today and reflect the changes in exchange rates mentioned in that reply.

any loopholes discovered by taxpayers, in the next following Finance Act.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

The speed with which avoidance devices are detected and countered varies with the nature of the device and the extent of the tax loss.