§ SIR F. CAWLEY (Lancashire, Prestwich)To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that whereas formerly the surveyor of income-tax, in settling the accounts under 2074 Schedule D, satisfied himself that the remunerations under Schedule E were properly accounted for, and was consequently the only official in possession of information regarding the latter, now such information must pass through the hands of the local assessor and staff, the clerk to the Commissioners and staff, the surveyors of taxes and staff, the Commissioners who sign the district Returns; whether he is aware that the information given under Schedule E, having to pass through so many hands, with the consequent fear of publicity, is extremely distasteful to many business firms and may lead to serious loss; and will he give an assurance that Returns under Schedule E cannot be lodged otherwise than through the local clerk, assessor, and surveyor, except in cases of a disputed assessment, the local Commissioner shall have no access to statements of profits or of emoluments of the taxpayer, and that even although the schedules of emoluments for the district have to be signed by the local Commissioner, such Commissioners cannot and do not see the contents of the volume to which they append their signatures.
(Answered by Mr. Lloyd-George.) Assessors, the district Commissioners of taxes, the clerks to Commissioners, the surveyors of taxes and their staff, who are all sworn to secrecy under Schedule D of the Income Tax Acts, must of necessity have access to the Returns and assessments under Schedule E, and it would be quite impossible to give the assurance asked for by my hon. friend. Any fears, however, that may be entertained as to publicity being given to the information contained in the Returns and assessments are quite groundless, effectual care being taken to safeguard the privacy of all returns made by taxpayers under Schedules D and E.