§ Mr. Stanbrookasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ask the Inland Revenue to write off income tax debts caused by errors made by the Inland Revenue, in the case of retirement pensioners earning £3,000 or less per annum.
§ Mr. Robert Sheldon, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 15th May 1978; Vol. 950, c. 71], gave the following answer:
Arrears of tax which have arisen because the Inland Revenue has failed to
1977 1978 £ £ The Queen's Civil List … … 1,903,000 1,950,000 (estimated) Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother … … 155,000 175,000 HRH The Duke of Edinburgh … … 85,000 93,500 HRH The Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon … … 55,000 59,000 HRH The Princess Anne, Mrs. Mark Phillips … … 50,000 60,000 HRH The Prince Andrew … … — 17,262 HRH Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester … … 25,000 30,000 HRH The Duke of Gloucester … … 26,000 39,000 HRH The Duke of Kent … … 48,000 60,000 HRH Princess Alexandra, Mrs. Angus Ogilvy … … 50,000 60,000 HRH Princess Alice, Countess of Athlone … … 6,000 6,500 2,403,000 2,550,262 Notes: 1. These figures combine the sums payable directly from the Consolidated Fund with the supplements provided by the Royal Trustees from the grant made to them in the Vote for Economic and Financial Administration: Treasury (Class XIII, 4). With the exception of the allowance to HRH The Prince Andrew all the increases are directly linked to increased expenses incurred in carrying out the Royal duties. 2. A sum of £20,000 a year is payable from the Consolidated Fund in respect of HRH The Prince Andrew from 19th February 1978 when he attained the age of 18. It is Her Majesty's intention to make an Order under section 4 of the Civil List Act 1952 limiting the amount to be paid to him initially to £600 a year; the balance will be accumulated by the Royal Trustees. 3. Her Majesty paid £130,000 into the Consolidated Fund in 1977 in respect of the payments made to the last four members of the Royal Family, whose expenses are met under section 3 of the Civil List Act 1972; a payment of £165,500 will be made similarly in 1978.