HC Deb 23 October 1956 vol 558 cc455-6
2. Mr. Tilney

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the average time taken before claims by individuals for repayments of Income Tax are met.

Mr. H. Macmillan

No statistics are kept, but the average is believed to be about two to three weeks for straightforward cases. Claims lodged during the busy period immediately following the end of the Income Tax year naturally take longer than those lodged at other times of the year.

Mr. Tilney

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that there are many cases which are not straightforward, and that, owing to the credit squeeze, many citizens are finding themselves hurt financially by this time-lag? Will he do his best to reduce the time-lag as much as possible?

Mr. Macmillan

Of course, and I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue officials do everything in their power to achieve this purpose.

Mr. Hobson

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that, as far as manual workers are concerned, this problem could be simplified by having 53 weeks in the code table, so that if a man got a rebate, having earned less than he would have done in the normal week, it would be known by the people in the office what amount they should repay the worker?

Mr. Macmillan

I remember a great row about "Give us back our 11 days," and I do not think I should like to make a 53-week year without notice.