HC Deb 15 June 1961 vol 642 cc619-20
16. Mrs. Castle

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the Blackburn branch of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters protesting against his refusal to arrange for refunds of Pay As You Earn Income Tax to be made in uncrossed rather than crossed warrants.

Sir E. Boyle

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the reply in question.

Mrs. Castle

Is not that reply totally unsatisfactory? Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that about 4 million of these refund payments are made every year, many of them to people who have no bank account and who must, therefore, hawk these confidential drafts round traders to find someone kind enough to cash them, the traders having to pay bank charges, and is it not intolerable that this burden should be put on humble people in order to save the Government administrative expense?

Sir E. Boyle

I think that the hon. Lady is making a bit of a storm in an egg-cup about this. For thirty-five years, all repayments have been made by crossed cheque and complaints of difficulty about encashment have been very few. Orders may be paid into Post Office and Trustee Savings Bank accounts, and a leaflet is enclosed with each order showing just how it can be cashed and making all explanations. I will look at the matter again, but we have had really very few complaints about it over a long time.

Mrs. Castle

Does not the hon. Gentleman realise that the people who receive the complaints are the sub-postmasters and that their federation at its last conference passed a resolution of protest just because it was aware of the burden put upon its members' customers whom they cannot help in these matters? Will he look at the matter again?

Sir E. Boyle

I think that crossed cheques are the simplest means of providing the maximum security against fraud of all kinds. I will look at it again, but I think we should need a lot of persuading that our practice of the last thirty-five years should be altered.