§ 38. Sir F. Bennettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss to the Revenue of Pay As You Earn Income Tax arising out of the seamen's strike, taking into account, in addition, refunds of tax during non-working weeks previously paid in any tax year.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Niall MacDermot)It is impossible 1431 to estimate what additional tax would have been paid by seamen but for the strike.
§ Sir F. BennettIs there no way at all of giving even an approximate estimate of what was lost to the Revenue as a result of this strike, quite apart from other repercussions? Could not the Minister say how it is proposed to make good the short-fall in revenue from this?
§ Mr. MacDermotIt is impossible to do this, as the hon. Member will appreciate when he reflects on the different times at which ships returned to this country and consequently the different times when seamen began to lose their wages and their liability to Income Tax.