§ Mr. CURRIEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without disclosing names, he can say in how many cases the claims of the Inland Revenue Department against distillers, etc., in respect of sums realised by them upon realisation en bloc 2233W of stocks of wines and spirits at war prices, with a view to or simultaneously with retiral from business, have been compromised owing to the unsatisfactory nature of Inland Revenue Regulations for discrimination between profits represented as arising out of annual trade and those represented as being of the nature of capital; and whether he will, by legislation or otherwise, improve the Regulations in question?
§ Mr. BONAR LAWNo record is available of the number of cases in which claims for Excess Profits Duty as respects sales of distillers' stocks have arisen. The computation of liability in these cases rests not upon Regulations made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue but upon revenue law. Obviously all taxing legislation must be general in character, andad hoc legislation or Regulations directed to meet the precise circumstances of every individual case, such as my hon. Friend appears to have in mind, would be impracticable.