§ Sir F. NELSONasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that in certain cases interest has been claimed by the Inland Revenue Department in regard to sums due as Excess Profits Duty when the delay in payment of such duty has arisen owing to a claim by the taxpayer, subsequently upheld, as to a part of the payment due; and if, in view of the circumstances of these cases, he will instruct the Inland Revenue Department to withdraw such claims?
Mr. GUINNESSThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The charge of interest was intended to make good the loss which the Exchequer might suffer by the postponement of payment of Excess Profits Duty, whatever the reason for that postponement, and inasmuch as the charge of interest is limited to that due on the amount of duty properly payable, I can see no grounds upon which such statutory charge can be waived in the circumstances indicated by the hon. Member.