Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what (a) the amounts not collected and (b) the reason for the remission or write-off was in respect of each remission and write-off included in HM Revenue and Customs Trust Statements since May 2010.

The amounts not collected in relation to the revenue remissions and write-offs from May 2010 are detailed in the Revenue Losses note within the relevant published Trust Statements. Remissions are debts capable of recovery but not cost effective to pursue. Write- offs are debts that are considered to be irrecoverable because there is no practical means for pursuing the liability, for example ‘missing’ or ‘deceased’.

Specific reasons why individual debts are remitted or written off are varied and we are unable to provide a reason for each remission and write-off as requested due to the number and variety of data sources. The cost to provide such detailed information would be disproportionate.