§ Mr. PriskTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) when the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit will commence work; and how many staff it will employ; [176258]
(2) what the total costs, including employment, are for the Inland Revenue Avoidance Intelligence Unit for this financial year. [176259]
§ Dawn PrimaroloThe Inland Revenue's Avoidance Intelligence Unit will be operational by the time the tax avoidance disclosure rules come into effect on 1 August 2004. The anticipated initial funding for the Unit is £1.5 million for the first full year. The precise number of staff who will be employed within the Unit is not fixed but will be under constant review and will vary according to the level of work the Unit has to handle.