§ 62. Mr. CURRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the instructions issued to Inland Revenue officials for their guidance in discriminating between sales of timber, whisky, and other stocks represented as of the nature or ordinary trading, and therefore coming under review for purposes of Income Tax, Super-tax, and Excess Profits Duty, and those represented as of the nature of capital and therefore enjoying more or less complete immunity from taxation?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo general instructions have been found necessary. Any case involving the point suggested by my hon. Friend is dealt with by the application of the Statutory principles to its particular facts.
§ 64. Mr. CURRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a list, omitting names if this be thought desirable, of transactions involving sums of £10,000 and upwards in which the Government has bought blocks of timber standing or felled; and whether strict inquiry is made in every case and declarations taken from the parties selling as to whether the profits on such transactions represent taxable gains or not?
§ Mr. WARDLEMy right hon. Friend has asked me to reply to this question. It would not, I think, be in the public interest to give particulars of the transactions referred to. The Timber Control Department makes its purchases upon a commercial basis, and does not undertake any inquiries as to the liability of the sellers in taxation.
§ Mr. CURRIEIs no inquiry whatever made with reference to the question raised in the last part of this question?
§ Mr. WARDLENot by me.
§ Mr. CURRIEOr by anybody else?
§ Mr. WARDLEI am not able to reply to that question.