HC Deb 03 February 1948 vol 446 cc1643-4
72. Mr. Drayson

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury if he has considered the article by Mr. Douglas Houghton, general secretary of the Inland Revenue Staffs Federation, dealing with profits of retail traders, a copy of which has been sent to him; and as the information disclosed in the article appears to have been obtained from official sources if he will investigate this and make a statement.

Mr. Glenvil Hall

Yes, Sir. The author of the article is not a civil servant and has no access to official records. The references therein to taxation indicate, however, that the writer had information of a general character drawn from official sources. This occurrence may impair the confidence rightly placed by the public in Inland Revenue officials to preserve secrecy and I take a serious view of it. The general secretary to the Federation has, however, expressed his regret at what has happened, and has undertaken that nothing of the kind will happen again. In the circumstances it is not proposed to take any further action on this occasion.

Mr. Drayson

I thank the Minister for his answer. I am glad he appreciates the importance of information which is disclosed to civil servants being kept secret.