§ Sir Dudley Smithasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the amount of money lost to the Exchequer through the black economy and of the impact its elimination would have on employment; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. MooreRecent estimates of the size of the black economy have varied from 2 to 16 per cent. of gross domestic product. This very wide range tends to confirm the Government's view that, correspondingly, it is not possible to make a reliable estimate either of the amount of money lost to the Exchequer or of the effect of its elimination on employment.