§ Mr. Chris SmithTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply of 18 December 1987,Official Report, column 847, he will indicate the grounds on which the names of companies obtaining assistance under the business expansion scheme are regarded as being confidential; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe Inland Revenue has a statutory duty not to disclose any information concerning the affairs of a taxpayer. It is for this reason that 1 am unable to identify the companies which have obtained assistance under the business expansion scheme.