HC Deb 09 February 1849 vol 102 cc556-9

The House then went into Committee on the Inland Revenue Bill.

SIR H. WILLOUGHBY

wished to know how it was proposed to pay the Commissioners provided for in this Bill, as there was no allusion to that matter in any of the clauses? He wished to know what amount of salary these gentlemen were to receive, and whether the sum would be brought annually before Parliament.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, their salaries would be the same as was now received by the Commissioners of Excise. They would, of course, be voted by Parliament, but he thought it better to postpone that question till the Bill was before them which provided for the amalgamation of the Excise and Customs Board.

MR. HUME

asked how many Commissioners there would be under the new arrangement?

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

There were now twelve—they would be reduced to seven.

MR. HUME

And what will be the reduction in the expenditure?

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, the immediate reduction would be 16,000l., and when the arrangements were completed it would amount to between 80,000l or 90,000l.

MR. HUME

What is 80,000l or 90,000l in an expenditure of 700,000l.?

COLONEL SIBTHORP

hoped this reduction would not fall, as it was usually made to do, upon the clerks.

MR. HENLEY

hoped it was clearly understood that the Commissioners would take office subject to such recommendations as Parliament might make, for at present the House were going on rather in the dark.

The CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER

said, that no new appointment would take place under the consolidation proposed. All the Commissioners to be retained under the present Bill were now in office and were receiving salaries, and he did not suppose hon. Gentlemen would put them in a worse situation under the Consolidation Bill than they now occupied.

MR. HENLEY

thought it important that the House should guard against the Commissioners being put in a better position than they were at present, and that it should not be supposed that Parliament shut the door against future alterations.

MR. HUME

thought that money and time would alike be saved if the arrangements under the Bill were placed in the hands of one able individual.

The several clauses of the Bill then passed through Committee.

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