§ 1. Sir J. Langford-Holtasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the United Kingdom has the same number of tax inspectors as the United States of America with four times the population; and what changes he proposes in the tax system with a view to reducing the number of tax inspectors.
§ The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Mr. Patrick Jenkin)Because of differences in organisation, I doubt whether comparisons between the numbers of tax inspectors here and comparable officials 206 in the United States can usefully be made. However, studies are being conducted into a number of aspects of taxation with a view to simplification.
§ Sir J. Langford-HoltMy hon. Friend will be aware, will he not, that for decades Chancellors of the Exchequer have done little more than tinker with the tax system? Can we be assured that it will remain the Government's policy to change the system and simplify it so that at least most members of the public can understand it?
§ Mr. JenkinMy hon. Friend may be reassured that we are studying a number of measures for simplifying the tax system, but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget Statement.