§ 64. Captain John Crowderasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that confidential Income Tax forms are being taken home by Inland Revenue clerks; and that members of their familes are working on these forms; and if this practice has been approved by him.
§ Sir S. CrippsYes, Sir. I am aware of the practice under which certain work is done at home by relatives of members of the Inland Revenue staff. This work is mainly of a routine nature. Every home worker undertakes not to disclose or discuss any information coming to him in the course of his duties. The practice started during the war as a means of overtaking arrears and last year the amount of work done at home was equivalent to the work of 1,000 clerks. The practice is thus a worth-while contribution to manpower savings, and for this reason I do not think it should be abandoned.
§ Captain CrowderCan the Chancellor give an assurance that no confidential information gets into the hands of the families of the tax collectors so that they can possibly relate forms with which they are dealing with any names of employees or wage earners?
§ Sir S. CrippsI should very much doubt whether they would appreciate sufficiently the substance of the forms.
§ Mr. John LewisWill the Chancellor say to whom these home workers undertake that there will be no disclosure of confidential information, and what form the undertaking takes?
§ Sir S. CrippsI would require notice of that question.