HC Deb 21 April 1959 vol 604 c211
31. Mr. Lipton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will issue a revised and simplified version of the four-page instructions at present issued to Income Tax payers on how to complete their annual returns.

Mr. Amory

A simplified two-page set of instructions is already in use with the return form sent to manual wage earners and to employees and pensioners earning less than £600 a year.

Mr. Lipton

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that this four-page mass of microscopic print is sent to a very large number of Income Tax payers and that it contains as many words as the first twelve chapters of the Bible? Is it not time that we abolished this class distinction which apparently operates in the right hon. Gentleman's Department and had some simplified form for all classes of taxpayer?

Mr. Amory

I will admit that the higher the rate of taxable income the more pages of information I send. If this is discrimination in favour of the wealthy, I must apologise for it.