§ SIR WILLIAM BULL (Hammersmith)To ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give instructions to the Claims Branch of the Inland Revenue to grant facilities to individual claimants in all cases of difficulty as to the evidence which the Board may require to prove the ownership of income derived from investments standing in names other than their own.
(Answered by Mr. Asquith.) As I stated in a reply to the hon. Member printed with the Votes for the 3rd July, the nature of the document required as evidence cannot be prescribed in general terms, but must depend upon the particular circumstances of each case, which, if there be any doubt or difficulty as to what is required, should be represented to the Board of Inland Revenue, who will then be ready to give any assistance in their power.
§ SIR WILLIAM BULLTo ask Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take such steps as are in his power to effect some immediate reform in the Claims Branch of the Inland Revenue, so as to expedite the settlement of outstanding claims, many of which have been shelved for six months without having been attended to in any way.
378 (Answered by Mr. Asquith.) On the general question of the delay in dealing with repayment claims, I fear I cannot add anything to the replies which I gave to Questions by the noble Lord the Member for Marylebone on the 6th instant, and by the hon. Member for the Rye Division on the 22nd instant † If, however, the hon. Member will give particulars of any claim which has "been shelved for six months without having been attended to in any way," I will have the case inquired into.