asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current volume of data items exchanged between his Department and the Inland Revenue; and what are the expected future volumes if the Government data network is fully implemented.
Approximately 35 million data items are currently exchanged between the Department and Inland Revenue each year in the process of the collection of national insurance contributions and income tax. In addition, details of about 5 million pension rates arid awards, and approximately 3 million items relating to pensioners working and paying income tax are provided by the Department to Inland Revenue. I refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 26 January at columns 90–91 for details of the possible use of the Government data network for this exchange in the future.