§ 18. Mr. John Hallasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he can give of the cost of giving retrospective effect to Section 19 of the Finance Act, 1956, in all cases where the total tax and duty paid exceeds 20s. in the £; and how many such cases would be involved.
§ Mr. PowellI regret that this information could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and labour.
§ Mr. HallWould my hon. Friend agree that the number of cases involved is not likely to be large? In view of the obvious injustice of imposing a levy exceeding 20s. in the £, would not my hon. Friend persuade his right hon. Friend to introduce retrospective legislation, following a well-known precedent, even though the benefit will go to the taxpayer and not to the Treasury?
§ Mr. PowellBut the injustice which the Finance Bill last year sought to remedy was not confined to cases where the total burden amounts to more than 20s. in the £.