HC Deb 11 December 1945 vol 417 cc218-9
55. Mr. Driberg

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that R.A.F. personnel who were recruited in the Colonies pay income tax to an amount not exceeding the tax which would be chargeable in their own countries, but that R.A.F. personnel from the Colonies who were recruited in this country pay income tax at full United Kingdom rates; that this discrimination operates harshly against those who volunteered for service early in the war and paid their own fares to this country in order to join up; and if he will take steps to alleviate this hardship.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

My right hon. Friend regrets that he cannot extend the concession to which my hon. Friend refers.

Mr. Driberg

Can my hon. Friend say why not?

Mr. Hall

Members of the Forces who come here from abroad are exempt from tax on the income that comes to them from the locality where they normally reside, but they have to suffer, as do other members of the Forces here, Income Tax deduction on pay which they receive from the British Government.

Mr. Driberg

But can my hon. Friend say why volunteers, who came here early in the war to join up on their own account, should have to suffer more than people who were recruited in their own countries? May I have an answer?

Mr. Oliver Stanley

Will the hon. Gentleman give an answer? It is very hard on some of these Colonial personnel who made very great sacrifices to come over here.

Mr. Hall

That has been going on for six years, and up to July we had a Chancellor of the Exchequer who did not belong to the Labour Party. I think that it is rather late in the day to put this Question now that the war is over.