§ 61. Captain AMERYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Board of Inland Revenue have refused to give permission to members of the permanent staff of the Surveyor of Taxes Department to join the Army; and whether he will take steps to arrange that, where the duties are such as can be equally well performed by those who are ineligible for military service, applications will be considered from those members who are anxious to enlist?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. McKenna)In view of the immense additional burdens thrown upon the Inland Revenue by war finance, the Board are unable to allow any further depletion of their tax surveying establishment, which is responsible for the conduct of some of the most difficult and important work in the public service.
§ Captain AMERYIs it not a fact that the lower branches of the Surveyor of Taxes Department are persons whose skill is not such that they could not well be replaced by women or older men?
§ Mr. McKENNAWith the greatest respect to the hon. and gallant Gentleman, I can assure him that a very close examination has been made of the staff, and those who are responsible for it are satisfied that no further depletion can safely be made.
§ Captain AMERYWould the right hon. Gentleman be surprised if I said I have received letters from members of the staff who are certain their work can be quite easily done by women, and that they are anxious to enlist?
§ Mr. McKENNAI should be greatly surprised, and if the hon. and gallant Gentleman would forward letters I should be glad to supply him with an adequate answer.
§ Mr. HOGGEIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that heads of ordinary businesses are not given the same treatment, and their advice is not taken as to which of their staff they can dispense with?
§ Mr. McKENNAI could not agree with my hon. Friend that the necessity to the State of an ordinary business is quite in the same degree as the necessity to the State of the tax-collecting business, on which we depend for our revenue.