§ Mr. John Townendasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of pay-as-you-earn tax and national insurance contributions outstanding from employers at the end of the 1979–80 tax year; and how this compares with 1978–79.
§ Sir Geoffrey HoweThe amount of PAYE tax and national insurance contributions outstanding on 25 April 1980 from employers whose monthly payments exceed £2,000 was estimated to be £640 million, representing about 8–9 days' tax and contributions. I regret that information about the amount due from smaller650W employers is not available. The corresponding figure 12 months earlier was about £560 million representing about 7–8 days' tax and contributions. The amount outstanding at the end of April tends to be higher than at any other time of the year.
I should like to take the opportunity to correct certain figures in the answer I gave to a Question by the right, hon. Member for Heywood and Royton (Mr. Barnett) on 28 February 1980 [Vol. 979, c. 705.] The amount of PAYE tax and national insurance contributions that was outstanding on 25 January 1980 from employers whose monthly payments exceed £2,000 should have been given as about £500 million, representing between 6 and 7 day's tax and contributions. The corresponding figure in January 1979 was about £420 million or between five and six days' tax and contributions.