§ 27. Mr. JOWETTasked the Secretary to the Treasury if the clean-cut up to the age of twenty-five for military service applies to surveyors and assistant surveyors of taxes; whether, in fact, all grades of clerks to surveyors of taxes have been released up to the age of twenty-five, and up to the age of twenty-eight in the case of clerks classified medically as A, B. 1, and C1, whilst surveyors and assistant surveyors of taxes have not been released under similar conditions; whether the effect of affording special protection to surveyors and assistant surveyors will necessitate the release of clerks to surveyors in addition to those of the ages mentioned; and whether, having regard to the hardship of this policy of protecting surveyors and assistant surveyors at the expense of clerks, he will take steps for the release of members of his staff on terms of equality?
§ Mr. BALDWIN (Joint Financial Secretary to the Treasury)My hon. Friend is under a misapprehension. The extent to which the Board of Inland Revenue are in a position to release for military service members of their staff, including the clerical officers of the Tax Surveying Branch, is determined solely by reference to the requirements of the public service, and there has never been any question of protecting one category of their officials at the expense of others. Over 3,700 men have already been released by the Board within the general limits of age mentioned in my answer of the 4th March last, to a question by my hon. and gallant Friend the Member for Reading. I am sending a copy of that answer to my hon. Friend.