Written question asked by David Lidington (Conservative) on Tuesday, 30 October 2001, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 6 November 2001. It was answered by Lord Boateng (Labour) on Tuesday, 6 November 2001 on behalf of the Treasury.

Treasury

Question: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what proportion of applications for VAT registration during (a) 1998-99, (b) 1999-2000, (c) 2000-01, and (d) 2001-02 to the most recent date for which information is available were (i) refused or (ii) referred for further investigation; how many and what percentage of applications for VAT registration were found to be (a) invalid or (b) potentially fraudulent in (i) 1999-2000, (ii) 2000-01 and (iii) 2001-02 to the most recent date for which information is available. - Inc ref to appendix B of the HM Customs and Excise annual report 1998-99.

Secondary information