§ Mr. Bakerasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether the secretaries of the printing trade unions have been informed of the inquiries made by the Inland Revenue into the practices in Fleet Street known as the"Blow System"and"Old Spanish Customs ";
(2) what estimate has been made by the Inland Revenue of the loss of tax due as a result of the practice in Fleet Street known as the"Blow System"and"Old Spanish Customs ";
(3) what inquiries have been made by the Inland Revenue into the practices in Fleet Street known as the"Blow System"and"Old Spanish Customs "; and whether he will put the findings of these inquiries into the Library;
(4) what action the Inland Revenue intends to take in view of the abuses that have been revealed by its inquiries into the practices in Fleet Street known as the"Blow System ".
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§ Mr. Robert Sheldon,pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 24th November 1978; Vol. 958, c. 787], gave the following answer:
The Inland Revenue's investigation has been concerned not with those Fleet Street practices which govern the calculation of the pay received by employees but with securing that that pay, however calculated, bears its proper share of tax. On this latter point I have nothing to add to the reply given to the Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 24th November.— [Vol. 958, c. 795–6.]