HC Deb 31 January 1957 vol 563 c1164
44. Dame Irene Ward

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that there will be no concession to Surtax payers without special tax reliefs to elderly persons living on small fixed incomes.

Mr. Powell

At this time of year I must not say anything that could be interpreted as in any way anticipating my right hon. Friend's Budget, but my right hon. Friend is well aware of my hon. Friend's point of view.

Dame Irene Ward

I am becoming slightly bored about Chancellors in purdah. Will my hon. Friend convey to his right hon. Friend that my "Geordie" blood is up and that if the small fixed income groups do not get some relief in this Budget, as a Sassenach I intend to stage a demonstration—and as a Sassenach I shall win?

Mr. Jay

If the Financial Secretary has not done so already, will he, in his period of purdah this weekend, read the Radcliffe Commission's Report on Income Tax, especially the minority proposals for the reform of Surtax?