§ 28. Mr. GRANTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is with the sanction of the Treasury that subordinate officials in the Customs and Excise Department demand signed receipts from members of the public for money due to them before the money has been actually received; and, if this is so, on what grounds members of the public are required to thus sign false statements?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Lloyd George)I understand that the practice of asking for an anticipatory receipt for payment in connection with the Customs and Excise Revenues is one of very long standing, and I believe it prevails in other Departments also. If the hon. Member can inform me of any case in which the practice has given rise to inconvenience I will inquire further.