HC Deb 06 December 1960 vol 631 cc1047-8
19. Mr. W. Hamilton

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in the interests of economy in public expenditure, he will take steps to ensure that everyone in receipt of grant or subsidy of any kind shall include such grant or subsidy on his annual Income Tax return.

Mr. Selwyn Lloyd

No, Sir.

Mr. Hamilton

Can the right hon. and learned Gentleman give any good reason why this should not be the policy of the Government? For instance, is he aware that people in receipt of Family Allowances have always to return those allowances on their Income Tax returns? There is a serious and disturbed feeling among the members of the farming community at the charge that farmers get £250 million a year without any means test and that some of them who get a part of this could well do without it. Is the Chancellor aware that if they returned this money on their Income Tax returns that charge would be invalid?

Mr. Lloyd

I am not certain what is the suggestion of the hon. Member. Is it that such sums should be put on the Income Tax form with the intention that they should be taxed? If so, we are getting into a much wider argument than may be dealt with by question and answer.