§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the expenditure by the Inland Revenue on advertising was in each fiscal year since 1997–98; and if he will make a statement. [38257]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe expenditure by the Inland Revenue on advertising was in each fiscal year since 1997–98 as follows.
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Campaign Total (£) 1997–98 Self Assessment 4,152,488 1998–99 Self Assessment 2,351,340 Construction Industry Scheme 651,962 Millennium Gift Aid 2,686,098 ISA Campaign 810,230 1999–2000 Construction Industry Scheme 949,787 Self Assessment 1,479,997 Employers Campaign 195,637 Working Families' Tax Credit take-up campaign 6,664,663 Disabled Person's Tax Credit take-up campaign 245,638 2000–01 Self Assessment 3,740,418 PAYE Online 879,646 Call Confidential 1,024,500 Self Employed Registration Helpline 454,972 Children's Tax Credit 5,005,254 Working Families' Tax Credit 4,848,429 Disabled Person's Tax Credit 63,347 2001–02 Self Assessment (including online) 4,718,205 Working Families' Tax Credit 1,236,039 Disabled Persons Tax Credit 816,426 PAYE online 1,309,060 Children's Tax Credit 21,168 Payroll Giving 191,349 Share Incentive Plan 1,068,217 All figures exclude VAT
All campaigns were contracted through the COI and are independently audited.
All have involved an element of awareness raising as well as informing taxpayers of their specific rights and obligations within the tax system.
As an example, campaign spend on Working Families Tax credit since its introduction in October 1999 has increased awareness of WFTC, with advertising awareness peaking at 68 per cent of the target audience in December 2000. There were 1,293,000 UK families in receipt of WFTC at 30 November 2001, this compares with 833,000 who were receiving Family Credit at its peak.