§ 31. Mr. Hector Hughesasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the retaining fee and expenses of men employed in the service of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution are greatly and unreasonably reduced by heavy Income Tax; and, in view of the smallness of these fees and expenses as compared with the work for which they are paid, if he will consider and implement a substantial reduction in the rate of Income Tax for which these men are liable.
§ Mr. PowellI could not agree that these particular payments should be treated exceptionally for Income Tax purposes.
§ Mr. HughesDoes not the Minister realise that these men perform extremely 1430 dangerous and difficult work for wretchedly small pay, and that the amount of Income Tax for which they are liable is disproportionate to the amount of their pay? Will the Minister look into that with a view to seeing that justice is done to them?
§ Mr. PowellI am sure that the hon. and learned Gentleman will realise that it would be quite impossible to differentiate between one man's earnings and another's for tax purposes according to the danger or value of the calling in which they were earned.