§ Mr. LidingtonTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the average case value was of cases of VAT fraud investigated by HM \plain\f3\fs18 Customs and Excise under the civil penalty procedure in(a) 1997–98, (b) 1998–99, (c) 1999–2000, (d) 2000–01 and (e) 2001–02 to date; and if he will express the figures both in actual cash terms and in constant prices. [12211]
§ Mr. Boateng[holding answer 6 November 2001]: The average values for VAT civil evasion cases are as follows:
Year Number of cases Actual average value (£) At constant 2000–01 prices (£) 1997–98 898 28,000 30,000 1998–99 902 32,000 33,000 1999–2000 861 35,000 37,000 2000–01 729 49,000 49,000 These figures are rounded to the nearest thousand. Figures for 2001–02 are not yet available.