§ Mr. Viggersasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average length of time taken by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to process claims for the repayment of value added tax; and how this compares with the position in the five previous years.
§ Mr. Peter ReesStatistics are not kept in such a form as to show the average period within which repayments of VAT are made, but over 90 per cent. of valid claims are paid within 10 days of receipt by Customs and Excise. A figure of 90 per cent. or more has been achieved consistently over the last five years except during and immediately following the period of industrial action by computer staff at Southend from February to May of last year.