HC Deb 16 February 1971 vol 811 cc1599-600
26. Mr. Meacher

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to prohibit the placing of advertisements in public places which recommend the avoidance of income tax, surtax or estate duty in a manner designed to circumvent the intention of Parliament.

Mr. Higgins

No, Sir.

Mr. Meacher

Does the Minister not regard what is, in effect, the connivance of public advertisements, blatantly encouraging the circumvention of estate duty liability, as being inconsistent with the traditional hostility of the Conservative Party to the scrounger who is by definition circumventing his obligations to the community? Is this not yet a further instance of the class bias of the Conservative Party inasmuch as tax avoidance by the rich is condoned as a wife hus- banding of assets, while obtaining extra benefits——

Hon. Members

Too long.

Mr. Meacher

—and getting extra income to assist low income families is regarded as fraudulent and as an action liable to prosecution? Is this not a case of one law for the rich and one law for the poor, except that in this case if someone cheats the State in a small way, then he is a socially disreputable malingerer?

Mr. Higgins

I do not agree with the views expressed by the hon. Gentleman. Tax evasion is dealt with by legislation.