Oral Answers to Questions

Rosie Cooper Excerpts

Tuesday 10th March 2015 Commons Chamber

The Chancellor of the Exchequer was asked—

[Rosie Cooper (West Lancashire) (Lab)]

1. What recent estimate Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has made of the amount of uncollected tax in the UK.

[Mrs Mary Glindon (North Tyneside) (Lab)]

4. What recent estimate Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs has made of the amount of uncollected tax in the UK.

[The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr David Gauke)]

HMRC published its latest tax gap estimates on 16 October 2014. In 2012-13, the tax gap was estimated at £34 billion, 6.8% of total tax due.

[Rosie Cooper]

I thank the Minister for those figures. Will he confirm that HMRC’s own figures show that under this Government the amount of uncollected tax has risen by £3 billion?

[Mr Gauke]

The number I quoted a moment ago, 6.8%, is a lower percentage of tax due than was achieved in any year under the previous Government.