§ 44. Sir NICHOLAS GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that the inland Revenue Department has abandoned its practice of making small re- 1162 funds of Income Tax by means of orders payable at the Post Office and now only makes refunds by means of crossed cheques and whether, having regard to the inconvenience caused thereby to recipients without banking accounts, the Department will revert to its former practice?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)If my hon. Friend has any particular case of inconvenience in mind anti will let me have details, I will gladly make it the subject of inquiry. Complaints have always been exceedingly rare, and I understand they were never fewer than at present. The practice of making refunds by means of crossed cheques was adopted in the interests of economy and security. After some years' trial there is no evidence that it has given rise to any perceptible degree of friction or inconvenience to the public. In the circumstances I cannot see my way to agree with the suggestion that the practice should be abandoned.