§ 22. Mr. Goodhartasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many members of the staff of the Inland Revenue are wholly employed on work relating to the Capital Gains Tax; and how many are employed part time on making Capital Gains Tax assessments.
§ Mr. DiamondSeven officers are wholly employed on Capital Gains Tax, but work on the tax forms part of the duties of a substantial proportion of Inland Revenue staff.
§ Mr. GoodhartIs the Treasury making any study of the time which might be saved in staff duties by exempting, say, the first £200 of capital gain from tax?
§ Mr. DiamondThis question has been gone into many times, and the proposal which the hon. Gentleman has made is not likely to result in any saving of time whatsoever.
§ Mr. Stratton MillsWhy is it that this staff are unable, with their other duties, to answer the question which I put to the Chancellor yesterday, namely, to give the total forward losses for Capital Gains Tax which have been agreed?
§ Mr. DiamondI am not aware of what Question the hon. Gentleman has put to my right hon. Friend.