HC Deb 07 May 1931 vol 252 cc538-9
65. Mr. WELLS

asked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many additional civil servants will be required to carry out the new land valuation scheme?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Pethick-Lawrence)

The necessity of completing the valuation within a limited time must involve a considerable addition to the existing staff of the Inland Revenue Department, the bulk of which will of course be engaged on a temporary footing. It is not possible to state with any precision what the total addition will amount to; but it is not anticipated that it will at any time exceed 2,000.

Mr. WELLS

Have preparations already been made for engaging the additional staff to meet the extra work?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

Full preparations will necessarily be delayed until Parliament has given its consent.

Sir A. POWNALL

Can the hon. Gentleman say if any provision has been made in this year's estimate for this purpose?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

No, I have already answered that in the negative.

Mr. HORE-BELISHA

Is it proposed to engage an entirely new staff, or to utilise the services of the valuers at present engaged?

Mr. PETHICK-LAWRENCE

I have already explained that the existing staff which is available will be utilised as far as possible.