§ Mr. Win GriffithsTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many petitions have been presented by HM Customs and Excise in each of the last three years; and what percentage of these were to secure the repayment of value added tax debt.
§ Mr. Ryder[holding answer 20 March 1990]: The total number of petitions presented by the Customs department, as Commissioners of Customs and Excise, in each of the years specified in the table is as follows:
Number of petitions presented in the English and Northern Ireland jurisdiction Year ending 31 March Number 1987 3,616 1988 3,098 1989 3,862
Number of petitions presented in the Scottish jurisdiction Calendar year Number 1987 120 1988 109 1989 153 It is not possible to state precisely what percentage of these petitions relate to value added tax, because separate records are not maintained.