Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 10 Tachwedd 1964.
Mr Robert Cooke
, Bristol West
12:00,
10 Tachwedd 1964
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what further question relating to business expenses he proposes to add to those already contained in Inland Revenue form P.11D.
Mr Jack Diamond
, Gloucester
I have no statement to make on this matter at present.
Mr Robert Cooke
, Bristol West
Will the hon. Gentleman bear in mind that this form relating to business expenses contains about 100 lines of closely written questions relating to travel, meals, cars, houses, goods, services, servants, education, sporting facilities—apparently grouse moors, which are already heavily taxed—and that there is a penalty of £500 for evasion? In view of what the hon. Gentleman said in reply to Question No. 4 and as there is surely very little scope for evasion because of the efficiency of the tax collectors, what possible further revenue does he hope to get from this source?
Mr Jack Diamond
, Gloucester
I note the complaints which the hon. Gentleman has made against this form, which rests on Sections 160 and 168 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, from which one draws the conclusion that the previous Government thought that the form was necessary.
The chancellor of the exchequer is the government's chief financial minister and as such is responsible for raising government revenue through taxation or borrowing and for controlling overall government spending.
The chancellor's plans for the economy are delivered to the House of Commons every year in the Budget speech.
The chancellor is the most senior figure at the Treasury, even though the prime minister holds an additional title of 'First Lord of the Treasury'. He normally resides at Number 11 Downing Street.