§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will list the provisions of statutes and regulations which limit the rights of British citizens to open and hold numbered accounts in foreign banks;
(2) what actions he has taken to a certain from the Swiss banks the numbered accounts of British citizens; with what results; and at what costs.
§ Mr. HigginsUnder the Exchange Control Act, 1947, United Kingdom 293W residents are required to offer for sale to an authorised dealer any foreign currency which they are entitled to sell, unless they have Treasury consent to retain it, and they therefore require such consent in order to hold foreign currency on bank accounts here and abroad.
It is a duty of the Treasury under the Exchange Control Act to take steps to secure compliance with and detect evasion of the provisions of that Act. It is not usual to give details of such investigations.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details of the duties and salary of Mr. Stanley Little, head of the Treasury's Exchange Control Enforcement Branch; what recent visits and activities he has had in connection with investigations into numbered accounts held by British citizens in Switzerland; and whether he will make a statement.
§ Mr. HigginsMr. Little is the Senior Enforcement Officer in the Treasury responsible for investigation of suspected exchange control offences. His salary is £2,988 per annum. It is not usual to give details of investigations.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will initiate discussions with the Swiss Government to ascertain to what extent they will, on request from Her Majesty's Government or the Inland Revenue Department, supply details of numbered banking accounts held by British citizens.
§ Mr. HigginsI have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.