§ 20. Mr. Peytonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider the introduction of legislation to consolidate the law relating to direct taxation.
§ Mr. PowellThe Income Tax law was consolidated in 1952. I do not think that further consolidation is necessary at present.
§ Mr. PeytonAm I not right in saying that there are about 16 Statutes in force bearing on Income Tax alone? Would my hon. Friend give further consideration to this point and bear in mind that it would be highly desirable not only to have the law in one hand but also to have it more simple? Would he not also agree, that it would be very much easier to get it simplified if it were less penal?
§ Mr. PowellConsolidation is not necessarily simplification, and there has been consolidation within the last four or five years. The Royal Commission on the Taxation of Profits and Income recommended consolidation over ten years, beginning from 1962, and we have not quite got there yet.