HC Deb 14 May 1968 vol 764 c1013
5. Mr. Costain

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much betterment levy so far collected by the Land Commission represents a reduction of tax collectable by the Inland Revenue.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Harold Lever)

The information on which to base an estimate is not available.

Mr. Costain

Has the Minister's attention been drawn to the Answer I received from the Minister of Housing and Local Government when I pointed out that his Department can collect money at 3.2d. in the £? Would it not be much more economical to collect this money through the normal procedure and not another agency?

Mr. Lever

This has no relevance to the Question on the Order Paper.

Mr. Higgins

Would the Minister disagree with the statement by my hon. Friend that it would be much cheaper to collect the betterment levy through the normal machinery rather than through the Land Commission?

Mr. Lever

I shall be able to answer that question when I have had notice of it.