52. Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cause of the increase in the indoor clerical staff of Customs and Excise from 1,248 to 1,652 in numbers, and in cost from £245,405 to £347,942; and whether they are engaged in the collection of revenue under silk and other import duties imposed by recent budgets?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLAbout one-third of the increase referred to is due to the progress of reorganisation under which a number of posts of officer have been converted into posts in the clerical establishment with corresponding reduction in the number of officer posts, and the remaining two-thirds to the increase in the general work of the Department.
§ Mr. HARRISIs the increase in the general work of the Department due to experiments, such as the Safeguarding of Industries and the Silk Duties?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, certainly. Obviously, if nearly £17,000,000 or £18,000,000 of taxation is raised by new methods of luxury taxation and otherwise, it entails some addition to the staff, but an addition which is well repaid.
§ Mr. H. WILLIAMSIs it correct to say that the percentage in relation to revenue is less than one-half per cent.?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI cannot say.