§ MR. SLOAN (Belfast, S.)To ask the Secretary to the Treasury if he can say what are the numbers of the staffs and the annual cost of that branch of the Customs Statistical Office employed in recording warehouse accounts of bonded goods; if there is a similar department in the Inland Revenue service in connection with warehouse accounts; and, if not, why is it considered necessary in the Customs service.
(Answered by Mr. Runciman.) I am informed that no branch of the Customs Statistical Office is employed in recording warehouse accounts of bonded goods. Such accounts, both in the Customs and Excise Departments, are kept locally under arrangements devised in 1881–3 after prolonged investigation by the Treasury Bonded Warehouse Committee.