§ Mr. Ridleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now announce a suspension of the new tax certificate scheme for sub-contractors in the building industry in view of the fact that the Inland Revenue still has not cleared 49,000 applications.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonNo. Of the 49,000 outstanding applications, it is estimated that about 10,000 are from businesses that have since ceased trading or are not otherwise pursuing their applications. About 35,000 are from businesses that applied some time ago but have been told that they do not at present meet the qualifying conditions; the majority of these will qualify when they have put their tax affairs in order, and their certification now clearly rests in their own hands. It is estimated that under 5,000 are recent applications, in respect of which certificates are currently being authorised and prepared.
§ Mr. Brothertonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many applications at the latest convenient date for 714 tax certificates have been referred back to the applicants for further information; and, of that number, how many have been asked to make fresh applications.
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§ Mr. Robert SheldonI regret that this figure is not available, but about 45,000 applications have been referred back, either for further information or to let the applicant know what conditions he needs to meet to qualify for a certificate. Fresh applications are not normally required in these cases.