HC Deb 29 November 1995 vol 267 c696W
Mr. Robert Ainsworth

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax was remitted or written off as irrecoverable in 1994; and how much of this was PAYE contributions. [83]

Mr. Jack

The total amount of tax remitted or written off as irrecoverable in the year ended 28 October 1994 was £1.16 billion—about 1.4 per cent. of the total tax collected, and some 26 per cent. lower than the figure for the previous year.

The amount of PAYE contributions remitted or written off in the year ended 28 October 1994 was £270.13 million, some 32 per cent. less than the previous year.

Insolvencies, where the Inland Revenue has very little control over the amount recoverable, account for the vast majority of tax written off or remitted.