§ 18. Mr. Ridleyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will prohibit the use of credit card facilities being allowed against company taxation for expenses.
§ Mr. Selwyn LloydI am not convinced that it is the use of these cards, as distinct from cash, that leads to abuse, but if my hon. Friend wishes to bring any cases to my notice, I will of course consider them.
§ Mr. RidleyWould not my right hon. and learned Friend agree that there is very genuine worry about abuses with expenses? Would he not also agree that if he put people to the small inconvenience of being asked to pay cash he could close up what could be a very nasty loophole and end what is, I think, in many cases abuse?
§ Mr. LloydI will certainly consider what my hon. Friend has said, but I think what we have to do is to concentrate on the purpose and nature of the expenditure rather than the machinery by which it is made possible.