§ 52. Mr. Rowsonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will review the decision of the Board of Inland Revenue to impose lower entering salaries upon new entrants to the tax officer grade in the Income Tax branch; and whether, 1583 in doing so, he will have regard to the view of the Industrial Court expressed in a comparable case in Award 1,211?
§ Sir J. SimonI do not propose to intervene in the matter to which the hon. Member refers. It is being submitted to the Arbitration Court, and while I am aware of the view expressed by the court in Award 1,211, it would be improper for me at this stage to comment on the relevance of that view to the present issue.
§ 56. Mr. Ammonasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware that 1,000,000 hours overtime were worked in the taxes branch of the Inland Revenue Department during the year 1935–36; whether the working of overtime is being continued on the same scale; and, if so, will he inquire as to the need to augment the permanent staff?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleYes, Sir, I am aware of the extent to which overtime was worked in the year in question. For the current year a considerable reduction is being made, and some 150 additional staff are being recruited to reduce overtime to a minimum.
§ Mr. A. V. AlexanderMay we take it that some of the many competent temporary clerks who are often put off for weeks together will be engaged on this permanent staff?
§ Lieut.-Colonel ColvilleI will take note of the right hon. Gentleman's question.
§ Mr. MacquistenIs the right hon. and gallant Gentleman not aware that in every country the taxing department neither slumbers nor sleeps?