§ 82. Mr. LOUGHasked the Secretary to the Treasury whether he can arrange that the Inland Revenue Department should expedite the repayment of claims under the Income Tax Acts in order to relieve the hardships that are now being suffered by persons who are only liable for small amounts or for no payment whatever and from whom substantial sums are being withheld owing to the high rate of taxation and the system of deduction at the source?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs my right hon. Friend no doubt is aware, claims for repayment of Income Tax are not spread evenly over the whole year, but are received in very great numbers during a limited period of time. I am glad, however, to be able to tell him that claims which do not necessitate inquiry are now being dealt with, and the money order issued, within an average interval of fourteen days. Where inquiry is necessary every effort is also made to accelerate the repayment.
§ Mr. WATTHave not schemes for repayment been laid aside by his Department until the Department gets leisure to deal with them? They never seem to get the leisure, so these matters are not dealt with.