HC Deb 19 March 1999 vol 327 cc642-3W
Mr. Jenkins

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the number of businesses in (a) Tamworth and (b) Staffordshire who will benefit from the reduction in corporation tax scheduled for April 1999; and if he will make a statement. [75657]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 9 March 1999]: Nationally about 400,000 companies have a corporation tax liability each year. All will benefit from the cuts in the main and small companies' rates of corporation tax scheduled for April 1999, including an estimated 2,200 of the companies dealt with by the Walsall tax office, which covers Tamworth, and 4,000 of the companies dealt with by tax offices in Staffordshire. Other tax-paying companies trading in these areas will also benefit.

The 1 per cent. reduction in corporation tax rates scheduled for April 1999 builds on the 2 per cent. reduction introduced by this Government from April 1997 and will promote enterprise and encourage investment. The United Kingdom's main rate of corporation tax is the lowest of any major industrialised country.

Mr. Trickett

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what estimate he has made of how many businesses in the Wakefield District will benefit from changes in corporation tax which were(a) agreed and (b) proposed since 1 May 1997; [74039]

(2) what estimate he has made of how many businesses in Hemsworth constituency will benefit from changes in the rate of corporation tax which were (i) agreed and (ii) proposed since 1 May 1997. [74040]

Dawn Primarolo

Nationally about 400,000 companies have a corporation tax liability each year. All will benefit from the cuts in the main and small companies' rates of corporation tax, including an estimated 700 of the companies dealt with by the Wakefield tax office and 400 of the companies dealt with by the Pontefract tax office which covers Hemsworth. Other tax-paying companies trading in these areas will also benefit.

Mr. Ennis

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many businesses in Barnsley and Doncaster will benefit from the proposed reduction in corporation tax scheduled for April. [73371]

Dawn Primarolo

Nationally about 400,000 companies have a corporation tax liability each year. All will benefit from the cuts in the main and small companies' rates of corporation tax, including an estimated 1,500 of the companies dealt with by the Barnsley and Doncaster tax offices. Other taxpaying companies trading in the Barnsley and Doncaster areas will also benefit.