HC Deb 24 October 1946 vol 428 cc26-7
40. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Assistant Postmaster-General how many new weekly tax table forms were delivered through the Post Office on behalf of the Treasury; and what was the approximate cost of distribution and delivery.

The Assistant Postmaster-General (Mr. Burke)

I regret that I am unable to furnish the information desired by the hon. Member as postings of weekly tax table forms are not kept separate from other postings by the Inland Revenue Department.

Sir W. Smithers

Are we to understand that this enormous piece of work was undertaken by the Post Office on behalf of the Treasury? Is there no debit or credit between the two Departments? Is this further evidence of the waste of public money, inevitable under State control, and no account whatever kept?

Mr. Burke

The hon. Member must not understand anything of the kind. The accounts are paid, but the hon. Member is asking how many of a particular kind of postings and we do not know that, because we cannot separate it from the lot.