HL Deb 16 July 1975 vol 362 cc1253-4
Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the second Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government why the Inland Revenue at Cardiff are unwilling to disclose to individual tax-payers the names of tax officers dealing with their tax affairs.

Lord JACQUES

My Lords, the Inland Revenue does not lay down rules about the giving of names. But if there is an unwillingness on the part of an officer to give his name it may stem from entirely practical considerations. For example, he may be dealing with an inquiry unconnected with his usual work, and reference to him on a later occasion may lead to delay or confusion. Furthermore, especially at junior levels, there is, in the normal course of things, a fair degree of movement of staff and re-allocation of duties.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

My Lords, I thank the noble Lord, but may I ask this supplementary question? In another place very many years ago I was on the Parliamentary Commissioner's Special Committee from the beginning. Following on that, a complaint was made by one of my constituents to the Inland Revenue, who refused compensation to my constituent although the report asked for it. The Inland Revenue did not give it, but announced that anybody could contact an Inland Revenue tax inspector in any part of the world. Following on that, perhaps the noble Lord might care to know that having written three times—

Several Noble Lords

Question!

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

My Lords, I have nothing against Tax Inspectors but having written three times, is the noble Lord aware—

Baroness LLEWELLYN-DAVIES of HASTOE

My Lords, I apologise for intervening once again, but I do not think the House feels that the noble Baroness is asking a question in our normal understanding of that word.

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

Never mind, my Lords. I will put all that down in the Official Report. On a point of order—

Several Noble Lords

No!

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

My Lords, are we not allowed in this House to raise a point of order?

Several Noble Lords

No!

Baroness WARD of NORTH TYNE-SIDE

Then, my Lords, it is time that we were.