HC Deb 18 April 1961 vol 638 c956
20. Mr. Grey

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will establish an Income Tax office at Spennymoor.

Sir E. Boyle

No. The present arrangements appear to be satisfactory.

Mr. Grey

Has the hon. Member given consideration to the fact that the population in Spennymoor and the surrounding district is large enough to justify a tax office as long as tax offices exist? Does he not realise that if there are tax problems to talk over, people in Spennymoor must travel to Bishop Auckland, which is a considerable distance? In view of this, and also in view of the fact that the Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance thinks it worth while to have an office there, why should we not have a tax office?

Sir E. Boyle

I am told that the average tax office in an area such as this deals with 35,000 to 40,000 taxpayers. In Spennymoor there are about 12,000 taxpayers. Any tax office there would be very small indeed compared with the average of the country. I have no evidence of hardship or delay resulting from the present arrangements, but if the hon. Member knows of any such case I shall be glad to look into it, if he sends me the details.