§ Mr. McMahonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied that sufficient amounts of tax evaded in 380W the black economy are being recovered; what has been the cost of the special measures taken; and how this compares with the returns.
§ Mr. Peter Rees[pursuant to his reply, 10 March 1981, c. 302]: Although we cannot afford to be complacent about tax evasion I am satisfied that the measures taken in recent years by both Revenue departments have contributed significantly to the increased amounts of tax recovered. By special measures the hon. Member may have in mind the special offices set up by the Inland Revenue. Details of the return from these offices was given in my reply to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) on 9 March.—[Vol. 1000, c. 261.] The cost of these offices for the year ended 31 October 1980 was about £1.3 million or about l/16th of the yield.