§ Mr. HancockTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cautions and prosecutions have been proceeded with for tax evasion in each year since 2000; how much money was involved; what the total was of the penalties; and if he will make a statement. [118110]
§ Dawn PrimaroloDetails of prosecutions by the Revenue are published in their Annual Reports, copies of which are available in the House Library. The total amount of tax that was the subject of criminal offences successfully prosecuted by the Inland Revenue in 2000–01 and 2001–02 was:
£ 2001–02 6,201,945 2000–01 6,599,539 Penalties are not relevant in criminal cases sentencing is a matter for the Courts: however IR pursue criminal confiscation where appropriate and in 2001–02 obtained 15 orders worth a total of £3.77 million.