To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to evaluate the tax reliefs introduced in recent years to encourage employee share ownership.

Information from the returns made by employers shows that impressive progress in developing employee share ownership has already been made with the help of the existing tax incentives, and the Government hope to see this progress maintained. To supplement the information already available, I have recently authorised the Inland Revenue to commission research into employers' attitudes to employee share ownership including, in particular, the factors which influence them in the introduction and operation of employee share schemes. The terms of reference for the study are being placed in the House Library.