HC Deb 17 February 1942 vol 377 cc1654-5
61 Mr. McEntee

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in regard to Case T.1193/6/38 Inland Revenue, how far back from the date of his appointment by the trustees to investigate payments from this trust fund: the inquiry was carried by the investigator; how many of the payments from the between these dates were investigated; what number were found to be illegally made; what was the amount of tax remission obtained on such illegal payments; what steps are being taken to recover the money so lost to the revenue; and is it proposed to take any punitive action against the person concerned;

(2) whether he is aware that in Case T.1193/6/38, Inland Revenue, out of 18 payments purporting to have been made in one year out of this charitable trust to a methodist church in Surrey, only one was actually paid to it; and that out of a larger total of 58 payments professedly made to the same church only two were in fact paid to it; that the payments that did not reach the church were made, some as gifts, and some as loans to private persons on the condition that they were to be repaid to the settlor in full; and will he take steps to recover the tax remissions up to 13s. 3d. in the £, secured by the settlor on all these payments falsely represented as gifts made to a church;

(3) whether he is aware that it has been reported to the trustees of the charitable trust concerned in Case T.1193/6/38 Inland Revenue, and to the Income Tax department concerned, that the money gifts said to have been given by the person concerned in this case, and other members of his family, to a Methodist Church in a municipal borough in Essex, in one year, exceeded the entire revenue of the church from all sources for that year; has any action been taken to investigate the facts of this case; and with what result?

Sir K. Wood

I would remind my hon. Friend that the matters referred to concern certain legal proceedings which are now pending. It would therefore be improper for me to make any statement.

Mr. McEntee

In view of the fact that these proceedings are taken at the instance of the bank, who are the trustees, is it not relevant to deal with the matters about which evidence exists, which cannot be disputed?

Sir K. Wood

I should not like to comment on any of these matters in reply to a Question.

Mr. McEntee

Does the right hon. Gentleman propose to bring up the evidence that he knows to exist before the court when that case is being tried?

Sir K. Wood

The hon. Member had better put that Question to the Attorney-General.