§ 53. Mr. FRANK GRAYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the percentage of net Income Tax collected which is absorbed by the expense of collecting all Income Tax and repayment of Income Tax collected at the source, in many cases including the cost to Departments solely concerned with Income Tax and the additional cost to other Departments, such as the Post Office, affected by this work; and whether His Majesty's Government is prepared at an early date to initiate legislation simplifying the collection of Income Tax and terminating the system of collecting at the source?
§ Mr. BALDWINIt is not possible to apportion the total cost of collection of Inland Revenue duties between the various duties, of which Income Tax is but one, nor is it feasible to isolate the expenditure which arises in connection with the tax which is collected at the source. Any departure from the system of collection at the source would not only seriously endanger the productivity of the tax, but would complicate rather than simplify its collection, and would entail considerably more expenditure.
§ Mr. BALDWINI will see whether I can.