Mr. Djanogly: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much compensation was paid to (a) companies and (b) individuals following failed prosecutions against them by HM Revenue and Customs, in each year since it was established; [160648]
(2) how much compensation was paid to (a) companies and (b) individuals following failed prosecutions against them by the Inland Revenue in each of the last 10 years; [160743]
(3) how much compensation was paid to (a) companies and (b) individuals following failed prosecutions against them by HM Customs and Excise in each of the last 10 years. [160744]
Jane Kennedy [holding answer 25 October 2007]: There is no record of HMRC, the former IR or the former HMCE having made any payment to companies or individuals in the last 10 years as a result of civil litigation against the departments for failed prosecutions.
HMRC makes redress payments for mistakes and unreasonable delays, as did its predecessors. The total sums for the last three years are published in HMRC annual reports. In previous years these payments were not specified in the annual reports of either of the predecessor departments. It is not possible for any of the years in question to distinguish whether any payment was made as a consequence of a failed prosecution.