To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what (a) the average amount of tax evaded and (b) the total amount of tax evaded was in cases pursued by the Inland Revenue's special compliance office which have resulted in convictions, in each year since 1997. [102004]

The total amount of tax that was the subject of criminal offences successfully prosecuted by the Inland Revenue since 1997 is:

£
2001–02	6,201,945
2000–01	6,599,539
1999–2000	16,108,650
1998–99	9,575,906
1997–98	16,721,002

Values in particular cases range from less than £1,000 to over £5 million. These variations can cause significant fluctuations from year to year. Given this range of values we believe that average figures are unrepresentative.