HC Deb 26 April 1911 vol 24 cc1803-4
Mr. TOBIN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he was aware that some of the clerks in the offices of surveyors of taxes receive while in a higher class the same salary as some of the clerks in a lower class, in spite of the fact that the work in the higher class involves increased official responsibility; and whether he will take any, and what, steps to remedy this alleged grievance?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I am aware that the scales of the two classes overlap in some instances; this is an essential part of the classification scheme.

Mr. TOBIN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, whether he is aware that, in the case of clerks in the offices of surveyors of taxes, promotion from a lower class to a higher class involves increased official responsibility and, in the case of promotion from a country to a London district, increased personal expenditure, without any immediate increase of salary, and that, during the last two years, twenty-five or some other, and what, number of clerks in the offices of surveyors of taxes have refused to accept promotion on the above grounds; and whether he will take any, and what, steps to remedy this alleged grievance?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I beg to refer to my reply to the hon. Member for the Thorn-bury Division of Gloucestershire on the 15th ultimo. Only in a very small percentage of cases are the grounds for refusal of promotion known. I do not propose to take any action in the matter.

Mr. TOBIN

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that a resolution was passed at the annual meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce in London in March, 1910, to the effect that the present system of staffing the offices of surveyors of taxes with clerks who are for the most part employed on agreement with the Board of Inland Revenue, terminable on one week's notice, should at once be done away with and that the duties of these clerks should be discharged by responsible Civil servants; and whether he will take any and what steps to alter such system in the direction indicated by the resolution?

Mr. HOBHOUSE

I bog to refer the hon. Member to the reply of my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for North Londonderry on 10th ultimo.