§ MR. BARTLEY (Islington, N.)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been called to the delays which occur in the consideration and settlement of claims for the repayment of income tax on incomes eligible for abatement by the Commissioners for special purposes at Somerset House; and whether he will take steps to prevent these delays both in considering the claims and in making the payments immediately the claims are due.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHAt this season, at the end of the financial year, the Income Tax Repayments Branch is 54 always taxed to its utmost strength, the whole staff working long after official hours, and even on days generally observed as holidays. This year the pressure is exceptionally heavy, and claims have recently been coming in at the rate of 5,000, 6,000, and even 7,000 a day. Each claim must of course be dealt with in its proper turn, and it is inevitable that some delay should occur at this time of year. The hon. Member may, however, rest assured that every effort has been, and will be, made to dispose of the claims as expeditiously as possible.
§ MR. JOHN MORLEY (Montrose Burghs)I beg to ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he can now continue, down to the end of the financial year 1900–1901, the Return of the number and amounts of abatements allowed for income tax in each of the levels of such abatements; and if he can state by what amount they lessen the proceeds of income tax at a rate of sixpence in the pound.
§ SIR M. HICKS BEACHThe latest complete information in regard to abatements is that for the year 1898–99, and appears on pages 122 and 123 of the 43rd Report of the Board of Inland Revenue. The corresponding figures for 1899–1900 will appear in the Report which will be published this year; but they are not yet complete. The figures for 1900–01 will not be available until the summer of 1902. The long delay is inevitable, and is mainly due to the fact that exemptions and abatements by way of "repayment" on the income tax for any one financial year continue to be claimed and allowed through the whole of the following year.