§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Excheqeuer (1), in view of the fact that in the Public Accounts Committee report 1968 details were submitted showing that over half of the claims for tax reliefs by persons from the Indian sub-continent were false, and that during the last two years at least one-third of such claims have been proved false, what action he has taken or intends taking to stop these practices.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonFollowing the report to which my hon. Friend refers the Inland Revenue introduced a more thorough system for the verification of new claims in respect of dependants resident overseas, as described in the reply of 18th April to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell). Where, on68W examination, evidence of entitlement is not forthcoming the relief is not normally granted.
§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Excheqeuer what were the total amounts of claims for personal tax allowances by persons from the Indian subcontinent granted and refused in each of the years from 1968; and how much in sterling has been the shortfall to the Treasury by these false claims.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI regret that the the information requested in the first part of my hon. Friend's Question is not available. On the second point, I refer my hon. Friend to my reply of 10th May 1977 to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat).—[Vol. 931, c. 459.]