Oral Answers to Questions — National Finance – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 30 June 1964.
Dr Jeremy Bray
, Middlesbrough West
12:00,
30 June 1964
asked the Chancellor of the exchequer what provision for possible future Income Tax reforms has been made in the plans for the use of computers by the Board of Inland Revenue.
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
No specific provision. But the hon. Member will be aware that these machines are very adaptable.
Dr Jeremy Bray
, Middlesbrough West
Does not the right hon. Gentleman think that it is pretty dead beat merely to computerise existing clerical procedures? Would not it be desirable to carry out a fundamental review of the many tax reforms which have been proposed to see what flexibility could be introduced into the system?
Mr John Boyd-Carpenter
, Kingston upon Thames
I am not sure that computers are the best method of achieving that end. These are used mainly for the great mass of P.A.Y.E. work, departmental statistics, and pay-rolling, but the Inland Revenue has a very good reputation for a progressive approach to the use of modern equipment.
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.
