§ 46. Mr. R. YOUNGasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury what amount of the salary of £750 per annum paid to the late collector of Income Tax for the parish of St. Martin's West, Charing Cross, was disbursed by him as office rent and what amounts were expended in wages to the staff employed by him and for incidental expenses arising out of his duties?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)The amount of this collector's actual expenditure is not known. Collectors of taxes are remunerated upon an inclusive basis, which leaves the collector full discretion, subject to maintaining efficiency, to determine what he will spend in clerical assistance and office expenses. Where the conditions of work impose on the collector a need for specially heavy expenses, the position is specially considered and the gross remuneration is adjusted accordingly.
§ Mr. YOUNGIs it not time that some system was created to provide proper arrangements whereby these officials would know what exactly was the amount of their wages?
§ Mr. SAMUELThe position is that the collector can either do all the work himself and keep the salary, or pay someone to do it, or part of it, for him, and, in that case, he has, of course, to pay away a part of the remuneration. On the other hand, he can also engage in other work provided that it does not conflict with his Income Tax duties.