§ 52. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to a recent case of embezzlement and falsification of accounts by a collector of Income Tax in a parish of the City of Westminster; whether he is aware that the collector had to collect about £1,000,000 a year for a remuneration of £750, out of which he had to provide an office, pay a staff, and meet incidental expenses; and whether, having regard to the responsible financial position held by collectors of Income Tax, he will consider making them established civil servants and providing for their offices, staff and expenses out of public funds?
Mr. SAMUELI am aware of the facts stated in the question. But I would remind my hon. Friend that the total sum collected by a collector does not in itself afford any reliable index either of his difficulties or of his responsibiity. The largest remittances are usually the simplest to deal with and afford the fewest opportunities 1848 for fraud; and the collector in question had to deal with single payments ranging as high as £250,000. I agree with my hon. Friend that it is desirable to reorganise the collection service by substituting, as far as possible, established civil servants under the Board of Inland Revenue for the existing system. But this is a big operation for which adequate statutory powers do not at present exist. The Board of Inland Revenue are already carrying it out so far as circumstances and the present law permit.
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHAMay I ask the Financial Secretary whether collectors of Income Tax have to provide out of their remuneration an office and staff and meet incidental expenses as stated in the question?