Foot and Mouth

HC Deb 26 November 2001 vol 375 cc637-8W

Mr. Peter Duncan

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance(a) has been and (b) will be given to regional offices of the collector of taxes as

Number of VAT-based enterprises in the UK by standard statistical region and year
	Count 1996	Count 1997	Net change 1996–97	Count 1998	Net change 1997–98	Count 1999	Net change 1998–99	Count 2000	Net change 1999–2000	Count 2001	Net change 2000–01
North	56,375	56,080	-295	55,705	-375	56,215	510	56,395	180	56,175	-220
North West	135,350	136,585	1,235	138,145	1,560	139,900	1,755	141,225	1,325	140,885	-340
Yorkshire and Humberside	114,060	113,940	-120	113,700	-240	114,670	970	115,325	655	115,010	-315
East Midlands	105,780	105,830	50	107,515	1,685	108,310	795	109,700	1.390	110,420	720
West Midlands	131,110	130,515	-595	131,470	955	133,000	1,530	134,695	1,695	134,585	-110
East Anglia	62,620	62,465	-155	63,510	1,045	63,930	420	64,690	760	65,350	660
South East	551,375	560,475	9,100	578,680	18,205	591,625	12,945	602,400	10,775	606,580	4,180
South West	141,700	142,490	790	145,225	2,735	147,765	2,540	150,260	2,495	151,250	990
Wales	73,505	72,990	-515	72,915	-75	72,240	-675	72,525	285	72,425	-100
Scotland	114,455	114,365	-90	115,280	915	116,085	805	116,665	580	116,665	0
Northern Ireland	51,315	51,440	125	51,795	355	51,965	170	52,955	990	53,675	720
Total	1,537,175	1,547,175	9,530	1,573,935	26,760	1,595,705	21,770	1,616,835	21,130	1,626,025	6,190

Source:

National Statistics

Inter Departmental Business Register

regards collection of (i) income tax and (ii) national insurance balances outstanding, as a result of foot and mouth disease. [17394]

Dawn Primarolo

[holding answer 23 November 2001]: Comprehensive guidance has been given to regional and local offices throughout the FMD outbreak. The Revenue is currently working on further guidance with Customs, which will be issued shortly. It is impractical and premature to give details in advance.

The Revenue's initial guidance outlined the need to be sympathetic, considerate and helpful to people and business adversely affected by FMD.

They introduced a number of measures to help businesses during this very difficult time and continue to offer sympathetic support on a case by case basis to those that have been affected by the outbreak.