§ Mr. Rookerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the figures for uncollected income tax for 1976; and if he will publish them in the Official Report;
(2) if the figures for uncollected surtax. corporation tax, capital gains tax, capital transfer tax, and VAT remaining uncollected for 1976 are available; and if so, if he will publish them in the Official Report.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe amounts of income tax, surtax, corporation tax and capital gains tax outstanding at the end of the accounting year to 31st October 1976 are shown below, together with the amounts collectable at that date and estimates of the amounts ultimately recoverable:
tion is "Yes". As far as the second part is concerned, I refer him to my reply to his other Question tabled today about the worth of cars to Ministers.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he is able to give figures stating that the top civil servants' use of a Government pooled car is approximately £1,400 per annum per head, whilst not being able to give similar details for Ministers; and using the same basis for calculation as used for these civil servants, if he will give the worth of these cars to Ministers.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon:The figure given for the cost of providing a car for senior civil servants was based on the salaries of Permanent Secretaries, which all fall within the same marginal tax band. It is not possible to give a single figure on the same basis for all Ministers using 663W pooled cars, since ministerial salaries vary appreciably; but for senior Ministers with a salary of £13,000 per annum, the grossed-up figure would be about £850, assuming that their incomes consisted solely of their salaries and they were entitled only to the married person's allowance.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of his recently declared policy on the need to restrict wage increases to 10 per cent., he will not set an example by withdrawing the tax-free houses and cars as supplied to Ministers and the two cars supplied to the two former Prime Ministers.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonSince the tax treatment of these houses and cars is no different from the treatment of houses and cars supplied to other taxpayers under similar conditions, there is no reason to withdraw the exemption.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give, to the latest available date, the actual or estimated costs of the tax benefits granted to Ministers and senior civil servants in the use of Government cars for their personal travel to and from their homes, offices, railway stations, and their tax-free houses and costs of upkeep, where provided.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon:I will write to my hon. Friend.