asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of capital gains tax collected in the financial year 1973–74; and what is the estimate of the cost of collecting this sum.

Receipts of capital gains tax in 1973–74 amounted to £323·6 million, as shown in Table 3 of the 117th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd 5804). The estimated amount of corporation tax paid in 1973–74 by companies on their chargeable gains was £80 million.As regards the cost of collection of these taxes, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 137–8 of the same report.