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Written question asked by Mike Weir (Scottish National Party) on Monday, 19 December 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Monday, 9 January 2006. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Tuesday, 10 January 2006 on behalf of the Treasury.

Inland Revenue (Sheriff Officers)

Question
To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much expenditure was incurred by the Inland Revenue through using sheriff officers in each of the last eight years; and what proportion of that expenditure arose as a result of incorrect call-outs based on inaccurate information supplied by the Inland Revenue.
Answer

The expenditure incurred by the former Inland Revenue in respect of sheriff officer fees for the last eight years is not held. We can provide information for the six years to end of October 2004 and this is detailed as follows:

Year to end October £ million
1999 1.11
2000 1.29
2001 1.33
2002 1.90
2003 1.37
2004 1.14

Information for accounting year 2005 is not yet available.Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs is not aware of having supplied inaccurate information to any sheriff officer. A sheriff officer would only be instructed to serve a Sheriff Court writ/summons or carry out diligence for established debt that is overdue and after telephone and/or written application for payment.

Secondary information

Type
Written question
Reference
39622; 441 c541-3W
Session
2005-06
Subjects
Debt collection Fees and charges Expenditure Inland Revenue
Contains statistics
Yes
Link
View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk