HC Deb 03 July 1979 vol 969 cc549-50W
Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average amount of back tax for the period April 1977 to March 1979 which is being assessed by the Inland Revenue on those Fleet Street casual employees who have registered under the new arrangements.

Mr. Peter Rees

I regret that this information is not yet available.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many Fleet Street casual employees have now registered with the Inland Revenue both in absolute and percentage terms.

Mr. Peter Rees

About 5,500 casual workers have registered their names and addresses with the Inland Revenue under the new arrangements. In view of the intermittent nature of casual employment, the number cannot usefully be expressed in percentage terms.

Mr. Michael Brown

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax is being forwarded to the Inland Revenue each week by newspaper proprietors on behalf of non-registered Fleet Street casual employees under the new arrangement.

Mr. Peter Rees

Rather less than 10 per cent. of the amount paid to Fleet Street casual workers under the new arrangement has had to be made under deduction of tax at the basic rate, amounting on average to deductions of about £5,000 per week.