§ DR. TANNER (Cork Co., Mid)asked Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer, In how many ports in Great Britain and Ireland could the present staff of Customs officers take over the bonded warehouses at present in charge of the Inland Revenue; what saving, if any, would be thereby effected, including the salary and travelling expenses allowed to the Inland Revenue officers; what increased charge would be incurred by the Customs in promoting certain of the officers from one grade to the other in order to do the work; and, whether a saving would be effected in any one port or ports should a transfer of houses from the Inland Revenue to the Customs be made in the said port or ports?
§ THE CHANCELLOR OF THE EXCHEQUER (Mr. GOSCHEN) (St. George's, Hanover Square)It has been the policy of successive Boards of Treasury to do away, as far as possible, with duplicate warehousing establishments in the same town, and advantage will be taken of any opportunities which may occur of carrying this policy into effect. It is, however, questionable whether any further action in this direction is possible without an entire amalgamation of the two Services. On the whole, more transfers have been made from the Customs to the Inland Revenue than vice versâ.