§ 5. Miss Quennellasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what authority the Inland Revenue makes charges for the supply of public forms connected with appeals against its own decisions.
§ Mr. Patrick JenkinI assume my hon. Friend is referring to appeals against the new rating valuation lists effective from 1st April 1973. There is no obligation on ratepayers to use the Inland Revenue forms for this purpose, and while such forms are supplied free to individual applicants, it is in accordance with normal Government policy to make a charge for bulk supplies.
§ Miss QuennellI thank my hon. Friend for that reply. He is entirely correct in saying that the recent revaluation lists have provoked some consternation among many of my constituents. Bodies such as the National Farmers Union, ratepayers' associations, residents' associations and old folks' clubs have sought through their clubs to acquire the forms, and it would be helpful in the circumstances if forms could be provided to them in bulk.
§ Mr. JenkinOf course the changes in valuation this year were much bigger than they would have been if the previous Government had not funked it in 1968. I recognise the problems to which my hon. Friend refers. Supplies of up to 50 forms are available free of charge to professional firms and bodies of that sort, but it would be contrary to the practice regarding 644 a large number of other forms that comply with statutory rules for the Stationery Office to make unlimited quantities freely available. We have had 53 bulk orders this year and 10,000 forms went to a large firm of surveyors. In the circumstances it is not unreasonable to make a 1p charge.