HC Deb 25 July 1984 vol 64 cc635-8W
Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on life assurance premium relief deducted from (a) juvenile policies (b) pre-marriage policies and (c) premium relief after divorce;

(2) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on lump sum retirement benefits from closed or frozen pension schemes under SC8B;

(3) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on tax relief for life assurance premiums paid by certain pension schemes which are unapproved after 5 April 1980;

(4) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on annual payments, other than interest, paid out of income not brought into charge to income tax under section 53 of the Inland and Corporation Taxes Act 1970;

(5) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on changes of the accounting basis on the merger of professional firms;

(6) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on cessation of trade, profession or vocation;

(7) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on deferred repairs on property passing from husband to wife, or vice versa, on death, for the purposes of schedule A;

(8) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on benefits received under a life, accident or sickness insurance policy;

(9) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on double taxation relief on income consisting of royalties and know-how payments.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1934, c. 454]: I regret that it is not possible to make firm estimates of the costs of these extra-statutory concessions. However, it is unlikely that any individual concession costs more than £100,000. Section 35(2) of the Finance Act 1982 superseded the concession on life assurance policies on juveniles.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on traders who cease to be resident.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: This is no longer a concession. Its effect was made statutory by paragraph 4(3) of schedule 9 to the Finance Act 1981.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on the death of a taxpayer before due date for payment of tax under section 86 of the Taxes Management Act 1970;

(2) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on long service awards;

(3) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on reimbursed travelling expenses between overseas countries and the United Kingdom by non-domiciled employees of nonresident concerns;

(4) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on foreign social security benefits;

(5) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on Crown servants engaged overseas;

(6) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on interest on damages for personal injuries awarded in foreign courts;

(7) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on overseas income received by charities in the form of interest;

(8) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on overseas income received by charities in the form of rents;

(9) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on profits from discounting transactions received by charities;

(10) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on charitable and benevolent gifts by traders;

(11) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on schedule A assessments on maintenance and repairs of property obviated by alterations;

(12) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on industrial building allowances for private roads on industrial trading estates;

(13) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on capital allowances for agricultural buildings and works;

(14) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on changes from the renewals to the capital allowance basis for expenditure on machinery and plant;

(15) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on directors' fees received by partnerships and other companies.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: I regret that no data are available centrally on which to make reliable estimates of the cost of any of the above extra-statutory concessions.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on relief from mortgage interest as a result of temporary absences from mortgaged property.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: I regret that no data are available centrally on which to make a reliable estimate of the cost of this extra-statutory concession. But the cost involved is a very small proportion of the total cost of mortgage interest relief.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on relief for mortgage interest to residents of the Republic of Ireland;

(2) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on relief for fluctuating profits from farming and market gardening;

(3) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on maintenance expenses of owner-occupier farms not carried on a commercial basis;

(4) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on distributions in respct of share capital of close companies in liquidation.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: I regret that it is not possible to make firm estimates of the costs of these extra-statutory concessions. However, it is unlikely that any individual concession costs more than £500,000.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on maternity pay under the Employment Protection Act 1975.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: This is no longer a concession. It was superseded by legislation contained in secton 31 of the Finance Act 1982.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on income of contemplative religious communities or their members.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: About £½ million in 1984–85.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on bank interest received by charities.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: No information is available on which to base an estimate, but the cost of this concession could be substantial.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on deficiency payments in respect of home-grown cereals.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: There is almost certainly no cost involved in either the current or future years.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on mortgage interest relief due in respect of interest payable on property which becomes the matrimonial home.

(2) what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on mortgage interest relief when property is sold within 12 months from the date it is vacated.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: I assume that both these questions refer to extra-statutory concession A38, "Mortgage interest relief: year of marriage." I regret that no data are available centrally on which to make a reliable estimate of the cost of the extra-statutory concession on mortgage interest relief in respect of property belonging to a spouse which is vacated on marriage and sold within 12 months. But the cost involved is a very small proportion of the total cost of mortgage interest relief.

Mr. Fisher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost to the Treasury of the Inland Revenue extra-statutory concession on Ulster savings certificates encashed after the death of the registered holder.

Mr. Moore

[pursuant to his reply, 23 July 1984, c. 454]: The cost is estimated to be negligible.