Mr. PRESTONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how long a delay usually occurs between the receipt by the Inland Revenue authorities of a claim for repayment of Income Tax and the payment of the same provided it is in order; and what increase of staff it is anticipated will be required to deal with the increase of claims if the Finance Bill becomes law?
Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:Claims for repayment of Income Tax are not spread evenly over the whole year, but are received in very great numbers during a limited period of time. During the period of pressure some delay is inevitable, but the steps which, as I announced last year, are being taken to decentralise the system will result in accelerating repayment. It is not anticipated that the provisions of the Finance Bill will entail any increase in the work of repayment.