§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of tax fraud or evasion were uncovered by the Inland Revenue for each year since 1975; and how many such cases resulted in prosecution.
§ Mr. Norman LamontThe numbers of completed Inland Revenue investigations resulting in additional liability in each year since 1975 are as follows:
531W
Year Number of settlements To 31 October 19761 13,561 1977 29,426 1978 50,719 1979 52,880 1980 53,214 1981 55,104 1982 63,305 1983 68,587 To 31 March 1983 66,809 1984 70,834 1985 70,606
Year Number of settlements 1986 64,589 1987 61,656 1988 61,453 1 The earliest year for which figures are available in this form. The numbers of criminal prosecutions for tax fraud in each year since 1975 are as follows:
Year Number of prosecutions 1974–75 220 1975–76 335 1976–77 324 1977–78 171 1978–79 188 1979–80 150 1980–81 188 1981–82 175 1982–83 142 1983–84 159 1984–85 238 1985–86 320 1986–87 325 1987–88 1213 1 Includes three prosecutions for mortgage interest relief fraud omitted from the figures given in the reply on 17 June 1988 to the question from the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) at column 14–9.
§ Mr. WrayTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is, for each year since 1975, the loss to public funds caused by tax fraud and evasion.
§ Mr. Norman LamontIt is not possible to say how much revenue is lost through tax fraud and evasion.