§ Mr. Robert C. Brownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many building workers are currently covered by the arrangements under which, even though self-employed, 30 per cent. tax is paid on all earnings, the balance being reimbursed by the Inland Revenue at the year end; and how many have been covered by this arrangement yearly since 1979.
§ Mr. MooreWe do not have precise information on the numbers of uncertificated sub-contractors who are having the 30 per cent. deductions made from their earnings, but we believe that between 150,000 and 200,000 sub-contractors are working in this way. I regret that records of repayments of those deductions are not kept centrally and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.