§ 77. Sir W. DAVISONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the admitted impossibility of the general public understanding the provisions of the various Finance Acts and rules affecting Income Tax and other taxation, he will appoint an expert committee to codify and redraft them so that it may be possible for the public who have to bear these imposts to understand what is required of them?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Philip Snowden)Such a committee is already in existence. It was appointed by my predecessor in November, 1927. As I stated in reply to a question on the 12th May, it has made substantial progress with its work, but the task is a gigantic one, and some time more must elapse before it is complete.
§ Sir W. DAVISONWhen is it expected that this committee will report, having regard to the fact that the Attorney-General and other lawyers have recently stated that it is quite impossible to understand these Sections of the Finance Acts?
§ Mr. SNOWDENI reply to this question as I replied to a similar question put to me a fortnight ago. The work is difficult, and I really cannot say when the report will be ready, but I will make some inquiries.