§ Mr. SternTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will reinstitute free postage between taxpayers and the Inland Revenue.
§ Mr. LilleyIt was decided in January 1988 that—from April 1988—the provision of reply-paid envelopes by the Inland Revenue should be confined to demands for payment of tax and to a few other special instances. Treasury Ministers approved this change because it helps the Inland Revenue to keep its administrative costs as low as possible consistent with effectiveness and efficiency. The overall saving in Revenue running costs from the change was £2 million in 1988–89 and a change in the existing arrangements would not be justified.