HC Deb 18 June 1998 vol 314 cc275-6W
Mr. Swinney

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual cost of collecting income tax in each of the five tax years prior to the introduction of self-assessment; and what was the estimated cost in the first year of self-assessment. [45341]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 16 June 1998]The annual cost of collecting income tax in each of the years referred to in the question was as follows (all figures are rounded to the nearest £10 million):

Year £ million
1997–98 (first year of SA) 1,030
1996–97 960
1995–96 1,000
1994–95 1,020
1993–94 1,030
1992–93 1,070

Mr. Swinney

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many staff were employed in collecting income tax in each of the five tax years prior to the introduction of self-assessment; and what was the number in the first year of self-assessment. [45342]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 16 June 1998]The number of staff employed in collecting income tax in each of the years referred to in the question was as follows (all figures are rounded to the nearest 100):

Man years
1997–98 (first year of SA) 37,200
1996–97 38,800
1995–96 41,000
1994–95 43,900
1993–94 44,700
1992–93 47,000