§ Sir F. BANBURYI beg to ask the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he can explain the action of the Inland Revenue in sending round to the offices of the railway companies and suggesting that that portion of the Income Tax due by them in March should not be paid, but held over until April?
§ Mr. HOBHOUSEI much regret that owing to the mistake of a subordinate officer certain railway companies which are usually asked to pay on 30th March taxes not due under the Special Taxes Management Act until 20th March were this year asked to defer payment till April. The instructions to the chairman of the Board were to receive payment on 30th March.
§ Sir F. BANBURYIn consequence of the unsatisfactory nature of the right hon. Gentleman's reply I beg to ask leave to move the adjournment of the House in order to call attention to a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the action of the Treasury in suggesting to the taxpayers that they should delay their payment of Income Tax and thus break the law.
§ Mr. SPEAKERI do not quite see where the urgency comes in.
§ Sir F. BANBURYThe urgency is that by this action money which should have been received this year and used for the Old Sinking Fund is diverted into next year. It is urgent, I submit, that the taxes should be collected at the proper time. Every day that goes by delays the collection.
§ Mr. SPEAKERBut the end of the financial year has passed. I do not see that any action which the House could take could go back on that. Supposing the House were to adjourn to-day in consequence of the hon. Baronet's Motion, how would that affect the matter? This is altogether new to me, and that is why I am asking for information.
§ Sir F. BANBURYIt would compel that part of the Income Tax which has not been collected to be collected.
§ Mr. SPEAKEREven then it could not be paid in before 31st March.