6 FEBRUARY 1971, Page 27

Tax refunds

Some horrible people at the Confederation of British Industry are telling their member companies to fight strikers by withholding tax refunds from strikers.

This is filthily oppressive—the money is not theirs or the Inland Revenue's but an over-payment by the striker who under PAYE already pays much of his tax before it is due. Unlike the self-employed who get a year or more's grace from the revenue.

I hope the Chancellor will speak sharply to the cut before they think up any more jackbooted jdeas like stopping Post Office Saving Bank withdrawals.