asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the percentage of the total cost in value added tax collection which is involved in collecting value added tax from businesses with a turnover of less than £50,000;(2) what is the percentage of the total value added tax collected which comes from businesses with a turnover below £50,000.

[pursuant to his rely, 12 March 1987, c. 271]: In 1985–86 approximately 3 per cent. (about £600 million) of the total net VAT collected came from businesses with an annual turnover below £50,000. It is not possible to make a reliable estimate of the cost of collecting VAT from particular groups of businesses. The total administrative cost to Customs and Excise of collecting all VAT, including the making of repayments, was £200 million in that year.