§ 54. Colonel ASHLEYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take to secure the payment of Income Tax in many parts of Ireland, in view of the fact that the Carrick-on-Shannon (Nos. 1 and 2) district councils and board of guardians have refused to supply the supervisor of Income Tax with any particulars regarding assessments; that the Birr (No. 1) district council has decided that no information be given for Income Tax purposes; and that many other newly elected local bodies have passed similar resolutions?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Baldwin)My hon. and gallant Friend may rest assured that all possible steps are being taken to ensure that all liability to Income Tax is assessed, and the duty collected without undue delay.
§ Colonel ASHLEYWill the right hon. Gentleman amplify that statement, and say what the steps are?
§ Mr. BALDWINI will amplify it to say that the Inland Revenue Authorities are generally successful in dealing with the grudging as well as the willing taxpayer. I suggest it is not beyond their ingenuity to deal with the passive resister.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLIs not the difficulty that they do not know which horse to back—the de facto or the de lege Government?