§ Sir P. Hannonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that £1,500,000, offered by three firms as advance payment of taxation free of interest, was not accepted by Birmingham War Weapons Week; and whether the Government wish to encourage advances of this kind?
§ Sir K. WoodI have seen a statement that £1,500,000 offered as advance payment of taxation to the Birmingham War Weapons Week was not accepted. These advance payments were in fact gratefully accepted by the Government. The amount was not included in the total which Birmingham raised during its War Weapons Week, for the reason that the target set for the week related to investments in Government Securities and the Savings Banks and it would have given a misleading picture of the success of the efforts if advance payments of taxation had counted in the result. As regards the second part of the Question, the Government warmly welcome advance deposits with the Board of Inland Revenue, Somerset House, against taxation liabilities. The response already made has been very gratifying, deposits amounting to nearly £32,000,000. I would like to thank all who have given valuable help in this way. I hope that other taxpayers who have substantial liabilities to Income Tax, Sur-tax and Excess Profits Tax will consider whether they can assist in this way in the financing of the War effort.