§ 55. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether there has been an increase in the number of Customs and Excise officers, respectively, since the introduction of the Finance Act this year; if so, what are the figures; and whether any further addition to the numbers of these officers is contemplated?
The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Guinness)The staff of the Customs and Excise Department. which on the 1st July was 11,329, has only increased by 56 since the introduction of the Budget. It is not possible to apportion this increase to Customs and Excise work respectively, as many officers are employed on both. Some further increase in staff will be necessary, but there is every reason to suppose that the cost of collection of the new duties will compare favourably with the cost of collection of the Customs and Excise duties as a whole.
§ Lieut.- Commander KENWORTHYHas the right hon. Gentleman any figures as to the contemplated increase?
Mr. GUINNESSIt is impossible to say at this stage, but we are satisfied that it will not show such an increase as will bring the cost of collection of 2396 these new duties up to the average cost of collection of the existing duties.