§ 49. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has inquired further into the case of the fishermen imprisoned at Grimsby and elsewhere for non-payment of arrears of Income Tax; and what is the result of the inquiries?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSI inquired into this matter before replying to the question previously put by the hon. and gallant Member. I am unable to add to the reply I then gave.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that these men are being imprisoned for debt and is not that against the law?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThese poor fishermen are quite able to pay. One of them is spending money in getting drunk regularly and one of them is a Super-tax payer.
§ Mr. SEXTONIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that the cases which I mentioned on the Finance Bill are still in existence and men are going to gaol periodically who cannot pay; and will he expedite the inquiry into those cases?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSThe hon. Member will receive a letter from me to-morrow morning which I have already signed with reference to those cases.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYDoes the right hon. Gentleman's description apply to the man who had his home sold up?
§ Sir W. JOYNSON-HICKSTo which man does the hon. and gallant Gentleman allude? If I know the name, I can then answer the question.