§ Mr. Proctorasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made regarding the proposal in the report of the review of the Inland Revenue collection service for a pilot scheme on combined inspections of employers' pay-as-you-earn and national insurance records by the Inland Revenue and the Department of Health and Social Security.
§ Mr. RidleyA preliminary study of the proposal has been completed and a pilot scheme has just started. Some Department of Health and Social Security inspectors when visiting employers about national insurance matters will also make a limited review of the operation of the pay-as-you-earn scheme. Some follow-up visits by Inland Revenue officers will be necessary. The results will show whether procedures can be introduced which reduce the number of separate visits to employers by officers of both Departments.