§ Mr. Beaumont-Darkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the expense ratio of the investigation department of the value added tax office against money received in the Birmingham area.
§ Mr. Peter ReesOfficers concerned with VAT perform a range of duties, from visiting traders to fraud inquiry, and it would not be possible to give a reliable estimate of one aspect of this range of duties in a particular location. Moreover, the amount of VAT falling due 153W from taxable activities in a particular area is not necessarily reflected in receipts in that area, since it may be paid through the main office of a firm in another location.
§ Mr. Beaumont-Darkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of value added tax evasion were processed in 1977 and 1978 in the Birmingham area; and what sum of money was recovered.
§ Mr. Peter ReesA total of 21 cases of VAT evasion arising in the area covered by the Birmingham LVOs were reported as offences and processed by VAT headquarters during 1977 and 1978; the arrears ascertained and the penalties imposed amounted to £179,700.
§ Mr. Beaumont-Darkasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether high assessments to underpaid value added tax are made and often reduced by up to 75 per cent.; and how many cases there were in the Birmingham area.
§ Mr. Peter ReesIt is not possible to identify the number of cases in the Birmingham area where assessments have been reduced or by how much. There is, however, no reason to believe that the Birmingham figures would be markedly
1976–77 1977–78 1978–79 £ £ £ For education and training of trade unionists … 399,852 640,942 1,000,000 For training of overseas trade unionists as part of the aid programme … … … — 75,000 194,080 For communicating the industrial strategy … — — 21,840