§ 56. Air-Commodore Harveyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the £4,500 compensation paid by B.S.A.A.C. to Air Vice-Marshal Bennett is free of tax.
§ Sir S. CrippsI cannot supply the hon. and gallant Member with information regarding the Income Tax affairs of a particular taxpayer.
§ Air-Commodore HarveyDoes the right hon. and learned Gentleman realise that this concerns the taxpayers' money? If a man has worked for a company for only 208 18 months and gets £4,500 compensation, surely the country is entitled to know whether that sum is free of tax?
§ Sir S. CrippsAll questions of taxation are concerned with what may potentially be the public's money, but it has always been the rule that no statement will be made as regards the Income Tax affairs of an individual.
§ Mr. BowlesWill the right hon. and learned Gentleman tell the House whether, under the law of this country, an amount of money paid as compensation for loss of office is free of Income Tax? That is all we want to know.
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir. It is for the courts to interpret the law.
§ Wing-Commander HulbertDid the right hon. and learned Gentleman, as the temporary custodian of the public purse, give his consent to this payment?
§ Sir S. CrippsNo, Sir.
§ Mr. BowlesMay I ask the right hon. and learned Gentleman whether, in view of his long experience of the courts, he knows what the law is on this point?
§ Sir S. CrippsNobody ever knows the law until it has been declared by the supreme tribunal, the House of Lords.