§ 48. Mr. TINKERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there is any differentiation of treatment between the small income tax defaulter of payment and those who owe large sums; and whether he will make a statement of the general procedure that is adopted to recover payments?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member may rest assured that all practicable steps are taken to secure payment of taxes that are due and that there is no discrimination in this respect between those who owe small sums and those who 183 owe large. As regards the second part of the question, the procedure for the recovery of taxes is governed by various provisions of the law, and is scarcely a subject which could be dealt with within the limits of a Parliamentary answer. But if the hon. Member wishes for further information on the subject or has a particular case in mind, perhaps he will communicate with me further.
§ Mr. TINKERIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that there is unrest among smaller income tax payers because of recent evidence which has appeared in the newspapers? One person who went into bankruptcy was found to be owing £14,000 in income tax and surtax, and they think that he should have been brought to book long ago.
§ Mr. PALINGIs it not the case that men who are receiving unemployment assistance are being pressed and threatened with prosecution for not paying income tax, and will the right hon. Gentleman give sympathetic consideration to these cases? These people are absolutely bewildered and ask why they should be called upon to pay income tax when they are in receipt of money from the Unemployment Assistance Board.
Lieut.-Colonel MacANDREWIs it not a fact that the £14,000 due for income tax is a case which has been running on for a number of years? Is it, not quite incredible that it should have been allowed to run on for such a number of years?