HC Deb 20 January 1970 vol 794 cc239-40
20. Mr. Dalyell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what measures he has taken to improve the speed of service to taxpayers given by Centre 1, East Kilbride.

44. Mr. Gordon Campbell

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to eliminate the delays now being experienced by taxpayers in Scotland as a result of the reorganisation involving Centre 1 at East Kilbride.

Mr. Taverne

Internal procedures at the centre have been under constant review and a number of improvements have been made; the staff has also been increased with the growth in the number of taxpayers whose affairs are handled there.

Mr. Dalyell

Whilst M.P.s who have raised individual cases have had total co-operation—and we thank the staff for that—does my hon. and learned Friend see an end to these teething troubles? What has been learnt from them?

Mr. Taverne

Inevitably we have learnt something about a change-over which must necessarily be somewhat complex. The centre will be fully set up by May of this year, and the teething troubles should then be at an end.

Mr. Gordon Campbell

While the computer at Centre 1, which I was glad to visit recently, will in due course be helpful to the Inland Revenue, is the Minister aware that during the period of transition serious and exasperating delays are occurring in the cases of many Scottish taxpayers?

Mr. Taverne

I am aware of that, and greatly regret them.

Mr. Eadie

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that there has been rapidly building up in Scotland a great deal of disenchantment with the East Kilbride computer? To restore complete confidence, will he consider conducting an inter-departmental inquiry into the whole matter, and let the taxpayers of Scotland see that something is being done to deal with their complaints, many of which I have received?

Mr. Taverne

A great deal has been done, and some of this will appear in later Answers. It is inevitable that there should be difficulties when it takes two weeks to convert from the manual records to the computer and when a manual and A.D.P. system must be operated side by side.

Mrs. Ewing

Will the Minister give us more precise information so that we can pass it on to our disgruntled constituents? Can he say what is the backlog, the waiting period, and when he hopes that it will be finally over?

Mr. Taverne

That is a separate question which I will answer separately if I am asked it. I can assure the hon. Lady that when the centre is finally in operation in May the difficulties should disappear to a very large extent, and, one hopes, almost entirely.