HL Deb 06 May 2004 vol 660 c132WA
Lord Oakeshott of Seagrove Bay

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Of the outstanding £l4 billion owed by taxpayers at 31 March 2003 as set out in the National Audit Office publication The Recovery of Debt by the Inland Revenue, what were the amounts outstanding:

  1. (a) between one and two years;
  2. (b) between two and three years;
  3. (c) between three and four years;
  4. (d) between four and five years; and
  5. (e) over five years,

distinguishing in each case between PAYE, self-assessed income tax and corporation tax; and what were the comparable figures at 31 March for each of the previous five years. [HL2562]

Lord McIntosh of Haringey

As mentioned in the National Audit Office report, over £3 billion owed by taxpayers was more than one year old at 31 March 2003, but it has not been possible further to analyse the figure of £14 billion. Comparable figures for previous years are not available.