WAR LOAN Cox VERSION.

Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance. – in the House of Commons at on 27 October 1932.

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Photo of Sir Clement Brocklebank Sir Clement Brocklebank , Liverpool Fairfield

62.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the total sum paid in brokerage through stockbrokers, solicitors, and other parties on account of applications to convert the 5 per cent. War Loan to 3½ per cent.?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

The precise amount has not yet been ascertained, but it will probably be somewhere under £4,000,000.

Photo of Mr Charles Williams Mr Charles Williams , Torquay

Will the right hon. Gentleman tell us what proportion of that went to the bank clerks, who did most of the work?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

If my hon. Friend will put down a question about it.

Photo of Major Abraham Lyons Major Abraham Lyons , Leicester East

May I ask whether, to prevent evasion of Income Tax, the right hon. Gentleman will direct that in the case of the whole of these payments the tax shall be deducted at the source?

Photo of Mr Rhys Davies Mr Rhys Davies , Westhoughton

63.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the number of holders of War Loan stock whose addresses could not be traced and whose communications were returned on the occasion of the recent Conversion Loan and the amount of stock held by such persons; and whether he proposes to publish the names of such persons so that they or their next-of-kin may claim the money?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

The number of communications returned was only a small percentage of the communications sent out, but it would not be possible to ascertain the amount of stock involved without a great deal of work which would not be justified by the results. These returned communications do not necessarily represent unclaimed holdings. Probably a large number failed to reach their destination owing to the stockholder's omission to notify a change of address. The operation received such wide publicity that it is practically unthinkable chat any stockholder in this country should have been unaware of the terms of the offer and. he could obtain forms for himself without any difficulty. The answer to the last part of the question is in the negative. Section 11 of the Finance (No. 2) Act, 1931, provided that if neither a continuance application nor a repayment application was in force at the end of three months from the offer, the holding would be automatically continued in 3½ per cent. War Loan.

Photo of Mr Rhys Davies Mr Rhys Davies , Westhoughton

In view of the fact that the right hon. Gentleman seems to know the percentage of the people who have not claimed, can he tell us the figure as well?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN:

The figure could be obtained for the amount of stock, but it would require a great deal of work, and I do not think that the result obtained would justify the expense.

Photo of Mr Rhys Davies Mr Rhys Davies , Westhoughton

Will the right hon. Gentleman look up his answer again where he stated that it was a small percentage? Surely if he can state that there was a percentage at all he should be able to give us the number.