HC Deb 25 January 1977 vol 924 cc592-3W
Mr. Michael Marshall

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on how many occasions the Inland Revenue was the subject of investigation by the Parliamentary Commissioner during the last 12 months for which figures are available; on how many occasions a completed investigation showed maladministration; and on how many occasions the Inland Revenue has still to rectify a complaint which the Parliamentary Commissioner had accepted as having some basis of maladministration.

Mr. Robert Sheldon

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 24th January 1977, Vol. 924, c. 413], gave the following information:

The latest period for which figures are readily available is the calendar year 1976. During the year 114 complaints against the Inland Revenue were received by the Parliamentary Commissioner, but he also had to deal with 36 cases brought forward from 1975 on which his inquiries were not finished. At the end of 1976 he had completed his investigation of 100 of these cases, leaving 50 to be continued in 1977. In the 100 completed cases the Parliamentary Commissioner rejected the complaint in 39, discontinued his inquiries in seven, and reported on 54. Of the 54 he found that there were elements of maladministration in 26, which had been rectified in all but one.