Written question asked by Jim Sheridan (Labour) on Thursday, 14 October 2004, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 20 October 2004. It was answered by Baroness Primarolo (Labour) on Wednesday, 20 October 2004 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she will break down the information submitted on the ACU1 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit in each of the last three financial years by (a) the number of gangmasters and employment agencies engaged for the first time by those using the services of a gangmaster or an employment agency and (b) the company name of each gangmaster or employment agency engaged for the first time by those using the services of a gangmaster or employment agency; if she will break down the information submitted on the ACU 2 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit in each of the last three financial years by (a) the (i) number and (ii) company name of gangmasters and employment agencies engaged by those using the services of a gangmaster or employment agency and (b) the total number of workers for whom the details required by the ACU 2 form were provided. - Inc fact that Exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access on Government Information applies in this instance.

Answer: Jim Sheridan: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) if she will break down the information submitted on the ACU1 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit in each of the last three financial years by (a) the number of gangmasters and employment agencies engaged for the first time by those using the services of a gangmaster or an employment agency and (b) the company name of each gangmaster or employment agency engaged for the first time by those using the services of a gangmaster or employment agency; [192579] (2) if she will break down the information submitted on the ACU2 forms returned to the Inland Revenue Agricultural Compliance Unit in each of the last three financial years by (a) the (i) number and (ii) company name of gangmasters and employment agencies engaged by those using the services of a gangmaster or employment agency and (b) the total number of workers for whom the details required by the ACU2 form were provided. [192580] Dawn Primarolo: I have been asked to reply. The information sought is not readily available and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost. The Inland Revenue is statutorily debarred from disclosing information relating to the tax affairs of individuals or public and private sector bodies and cannot divulge the details requested in section (b) of each question. Exemption 15 of the Code of Practice on Access on Government Information applies in this instance.

Secondary information