§ 51. Mr. MORTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to expedite the repayment of claims for refund of tax in the Euston No. 1 district and also reform the system so as to obviate the collection of tax from exempted bodies, presumably involving commission for collection and further cost involved in the repayment?
§ Mr. P. SNOWDENIf my hon. Friend will give me particulars of any case in which there has been undue delay in refunding tax under a repayment claim, I will cause inquiry to be made and communicate the result to him in due course.
§ 53. Major NATHANasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the approximate gross annual value of lands and other property assessed to Income Tax under 2050 Schedule A for the year 1928–29, and the yield of Income Tax thereon for the same year?
§ Mr. SNOWDENThe gross income assessed under Schedule A for the year 1928–29 is estimated at £415,000,000. The total yield of Income Tax cannot be divided by Schedules, and I am unable therefore to give the yield of tax corresponding to this assessment.
§ 60. Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether inspectors of taxes are acting under instructions in applying to local councils for certified copies of the valuation lists under the Rating and Valuation Act; and, if so, whether he can state for what purpose these applications are being made and to what use it is intended to put the information so obtained?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)It is a regular and long-established practice for inspectors of taxes to obtain fram rating authorities extracts from the ratebooks or valuation lists, and no special instructions have been issued in this connection. The information is essential for the purpose of ensuring that all new and altered properties are duly brought into charge for Income Tax.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEMay I ask whether the attention of the Financial Secretary has been drawn to the statement that the information thus obtained is being used in connection with Schedule A assessments?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCEThat is the object of the information. It is to enable us to avail ourselves of such information in regard to new property.
§ Mr. WARDLAW-MILNEDoes not my hon. Friend know that it is not always a case of new property?
§ Sir N. GRATTAN-DOYLEIs the Financial Secretary satisfied that this is a fair, honest, and legitimate way of getting information?
§ Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCECertainly. It is the practice which has been in vogue for a long time. In regard to the question put to me by the hon. Member for Kidderminster (Mr. Wardlaw-Milne), if there is any point with which I have not dealt, perhaps he will put it down in another question.