§ 25. Mr. Turtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the Report on Taxation sent to him by the Programme of National Recovery; and what action he proposes to take upon its recommendations.
§ Mr. William RodgersYes, Sir to the first part of the Question; none to the second.
§ Mr. TurtonDoes the hon. Gentleman recall that on 20th June last year the Prime Minister said with respect to previous recommendations from the same 1284 economists that he could not agree with the analysis or the conclusions and yet, within nine months, his Government had adopted their main recommendations? Will the hon. Gentleman ask his right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to abbreviate the period of gestation with regard to these proposals, which would, if applied to the last Budget, have reduced public expenditure and taxation by 29½ per cent.?
§ Mr. RodgersI am sure that my right hon. Friend would be prepared to look at the pamphlet again. At first sight, it seems a bit old-fashioned and unsophisticated. It talks of
a return to the pre-war principles of financial management",which is not what some of us on this side of the House would want to see.
§ Mr. EadieDoes not my hon. Friend agree that, although one can look at new forms of taxation, it would be a good idea to look at the present administration of taxation within his Department? The situation at the moment is just short of verging on a scandal, with people not getting replies to letters referring to their income tax affairs.
§ Mr. RodgersI know the problem which my hon. Friend has in mind. We are looking at it and trying to do our very best to help.