Mr. Alan Lee Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans the Inland Revenue has for further computerisation of the pay-as-you-earn system.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe Inland Revenue already operates one computerised PAYE office, Centre 1 at East Kilbride, but, as previously announced on 1st December 1971—[Vol. 827, c.120–1]—it was decided not to proceed to further computerisation on that basis. Subsequent studies have, however, con 726W firmed the need to automate the main PAYE processes across the country, and the Department has recently conducted a preliminary inquiry into the feasibility of introducing a different system of computerisation nationally, linking the staff in local offices to regional computers through the use of visual display units. It is now engaged in a full study of such a system with the aim of producing an implementation plan at the end of 1979 and an operational system from the mid-1980s onwards.