§ Mr. Buchanan-Smithasked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware of delays in dealing with claims for a refund of Selective Employment Tax and that these delays have recently lengthened; if she will investigate the reasons for the delays; and what action she proposes to expedite the settlement of claims.
§ Mr. HattersleyUnder the present computer system for processing claims the average interval between submission of a claim and its payment is just over three weeks, compared with two weeks under the previous system. Measures to reduce this interval are under consideration.