§ 62. Mr. PENNYasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the number of officials at present dealing with the valuation of landed property for the purpose of Estate Duty; and, in view of the great curtailment of staff which has taken place since the abolition of the undeveloped land and increment value duties, what is the actual reduction in numbers and cost?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Ronald McNeill)The staff engaged in the Valuation Office, including clerks, etc., number 806 persons, all of whom deal, inter alia, with the valuation of landed property for Death Duty purposes. Such work is not put into separate hands from the other valuation work of the office. Between 1920 and the present time this staff has decreased in number by some 370 persons and in total cost by about £170,000, but the total shrinkage of staff since the Land Value duties ceased, in 1914, to be in effective operation exceeds 4,000 men.