HC Deb 05 December 1950 vol 482 cc200-1
62 Sir Richard Acland

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will, in co-operation with the other relevant Government Departments, draw up a guide to business profits for the use of Inland Revenue inspectors as suggested by the recent memorandum of the Inland Revenue Staff Federation;

  1. (2) whether he will invite the co-operation of motor licensing authorities so as to make available to Inland Revenue inspectors information about new registration and change of ownership of cars as recommended by the recent memorandum of the Inland Revenue Staff Federation;
  2. (3) whether he will establish regular machinery in co-operation with the other relevant Government Departments so that information about Government contracts may be regularly transmitted to Inland Revenue inspectors as a cross-check on Income Tax returns as recommended by the Royal Commission on Income Tax in 1919–20.

Mr. Gaitskell

The problem of securing that business profits are fully assessed to tax has been intensively examined by a special Committee in the Inland Revenue Department. Some of the Committee's recommendations have already been adopted, and others are under consideration by the Board of Inland Revenue. The detailed points to which my hon. Friend refers will be fully considered and discussed with the staff representatives, but I think he will agree that it would not be right for me to disclose the methods adopted by the Inland Revenue to combat tax evasion.

Sir R. Acland

While agreeing with that last point, may I ask would the Minister bear in mind that, in view of the very hard times that are coming to us, it is very important for material, moral and psychological reasons, to take all necessary steps to circumvent tax evasion?

Mr. Gaitskell

I will try to do that.