HC Deb 14 July 1998 vol 316 cc129-30W
Jackie Ballard

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many training providers were consulted on the forms used for tax relief on training and how many responded to the consultation exercise; and if he will publish a regional breakdown of the consultees and respondents. [50008]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 13 July 1998]: An Inland Revenue Budget press release inviting comments on proposals to introduce a single new form to replace the two eligibility forms for vocational training relief (VTR) was issued on 26 November 1996. The press release invited those interested to obtain copies of the draft form and a commentary on it, and copies were placed on the Inland Revenue's Internet web site. Comments were sought by 1 March 1997. In addition, the Inland Revenue wrote to a cross-section of 25 training providers around the country seeking their views on the proposed new form.

The Inland Revenue received nearly 50 requests for a copy of the proposed form. About a dozen responses were received, only two of which were from the 25 training providers selected.

Jackie Ballard

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to reduce the administrative burden on training providers of the tax relief claims system. [50009]

Mrs. Liddell

[holding answer 13 July 1998]: As our recent consultation paper on the Learning Age (Cm 3790) indicated, we are considering targeted public support to encourage people to open individual learning accounts, which might include tax incentives. There is potentially a read across here to Vocational Training Relief (VTR) and we will consider any changes to the administration of the current VTR system in the light of our decisions on individual learning accounts.