§ Mr. Peter DuncanTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much is owed by businesses in(a) Scotland and (b) the UK in respect of schemes to defer liability for (i) PAYE, (ii) VAT and (iii) corporation tax to mitigate the effects of foot and mouth disease. [42000]
§ Dawn PrimaroloBetween 21 March 2001 and 3 March 2002, the total amounts deferred in respect of PAYE, VAT and Corporation Tax came to £65.236 million, £109.598 million and £11.954 million respectively. These are gross figures and take no account of amounts subsequently paid. Businesses seriously affected by the foot and mouth outbreak have not been required to recommence payments of deferred liability and we do not have full details of payments received. It is, therefore, not possible to state how much is still owed by businesses in Scotland and England. However, a sample review of these cases in December 2001 suggests that as much as £78.45 million has been paid voluntarily.