§ Colonel Carverasked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that many Irish workers are now refusing to pay Income Tax in accordance with the law of this country; and whether steps in such cases can be taken to repatriate these men to Ireland.
§ Sir J. AndersonI have been asked to reply. My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. It is the statutory duty of the employer to deduct Income Tax from the pay of his employees, including employees from Eire, in accordance with the Regulations made by the Commissioners of Inland Revenue. The Regulations give the employer no discretion in the matter, and if he fails to deduct the appropriate tax he nevertheless remains liable to pay the tax over to the Inland Revenue. There can, therefore, be no question of these employees refusing to pay tax in accordance with the law.