Question to the HM Treasury:

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the number of people who may be reliant on benefits as a result of the loan charge and associated activity since it was launched.

The impact of the Loan Charge was assessed and set out in the November 2017 Tax Information and Impact Note. While the impact on individuals, households and families was considered, no estimate was made of the number of individuals who would be made reliant on benefits.

HMRC has a well-established approach to helping taxpayers who are struggling to pay their liabilities in full, which takes full account of their financial circumstances. HMRC will agree a sustainable and manageable payment plan to spread the tax liability for anyone who is unable to pay in full. HMRC will not ask people to pay more than 50 per cent of their disposable income per month, unless they have a very high level of disposable income.

These Time to Pay arrangements are flexible and can be amended over time to take account of changes in a taxpayer's circumstances.