§ 44. Mr. Boscawenasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the reasons for his decision not to make good the financial loss suffered by Mr. S. L. Defries, according to the request of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration in his report of 21st October 1974.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe decision not to make an ex gratia payment to Mr. S. L. Defries was that of the Commissioners of Customs and Excise who are responsible for the management of the value added tax. The reasons for their decision are summarised in paragraph 11 of the report of the Parliamentary Commissioner.
The hon. Member wrote to my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary about the commissioners' decision and I cannot usefully add to what he said in his reply of 14th November.