HC Deb 11 May 1982 vol 23 cc214-5W
Mr. Trotter

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been recovered by the Inland Revenue and the value added tax authorities in each of the last five years from insolvent companies and individuals by way of preferential debts under the insolvency laws.

Mr. Ridley

The information requested in respect of value added tax is on record only for the last two financial years. In respect of the year 1979–80 the preferential element has been estimated from the total debts recovered. Information in respect of previous years can be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

1979–80* 1980–81 1981–82
thousand thousand thousand
Individuals in bankruptcy and companies in liquidation 2,524 2,927 3,953
Companies in receivership 2,199 2,833 5,728
* Estimated.

The Inland Revenue does not maintain statistics that distinguish between preferential and non-preferential amounts. The approximate total recoveries from insolvencies dealt with at its central enforcement office have been as follows:

Amounts recovered
thousand
1977–78 3,400
1978–79 4,500
1979–80 4,800
1980–81 5,200
1981–82 6,400

Substantial amounts have also been recovered from insolvencies dealt with at local collection offices but no separate record of these amounts is kept.