§ 46. Mr. Bellengerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the recent large scale avoidance of Surtax and Income Tax by persons otherwise liable to pay these taxes; whether he can give any estimate of the amount lost to the Revenue in this manner; and whether he is prepared to initiate legislation to prevent such evasion?
§ Sir J. SimonI would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the question by the hon. Member for Oxford University (Sir A. Salter) on this subject of 24th February, to which I am unable to add anything in advance of my Budget statement.
§ Mr. BellengerAlthough I do not wish to anticipate the right hon. Gentleman's Budget statement, might I ask whether the question is not of such a nature as to warrant his giving immediate and careful consideration to it?
§ Sir J. SimonI do not want to disturb the hon. Gentleman's resolve not to anticipate my Budget statement.