§ MR. FETHERSTONHAUGH (Fermanagh, N.)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the work of copying the assessments under Schedules D and E for income-tax purposes in Ireland, and making out the notices of assessment to be sent to the income-taxpayers, is done by the clerks of the surveyors of taxes who are not civil servants; do they also file and record the income-tax returns rendered by the public; is he aware that such clerks deal with and report on applications in Form 48; and, when they are employed in so doing, will he say whether steps are taken to keep from them the details of the income of the persons making application on Form 48.
§ (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) The Answer to the first two Questions is in 1003 the affirmative. Form 48 is a form used for communication between one surveyor and another. The duties of the clerks in connection with, this form are of a purely routine character. On the general question of the extent to which the clerks have access to documents of a confidential character and the policy of the Board of Inland Revenue in the matter, I cannot add anything to the reply given by my hon. friend the Secretary to the Treasury to a Question by the hon. Member on the 14th November last.†