§ Mr. Tinnasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many post-war credits have been repaid since the general release began in April 1972; what progress is being made currently; and whether it is proposed to fix a final date for claims.
§ Mr. Joel BarnettAbout 3½ million credits have been repaid; new claims have now fallen to a rate of between 6,000 and 7,000 a month. Inland Revenue records show a total of unclaimed credits of about 2.4 million, worth perhaps £50 million exclusive of interest; it is not known what proportion of this total was originally due to taxpayers who have died, emigrated or otherwise lost touch with the Revenue during or after the war. It would be premature at this stage to consider fixing a final date for the acceptance of claims. However, everyone owning a credit is entitled to claim and I hope that they will do so as soon as possible.