Inland Revenue Vote (Class I, Vote 7)

HC Deb 21 March 1963 vol 674 cc543-4

7. Mr. Ridley

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he underestimated the Vote for the Inland Revenue (Class I, Vote 7) by £1,681,000.

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

Because the original Estimate was submitted before award No. 415 of the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal on 5th June, 1962, increased most Civil Service salaries by 4 per ent.

Mr. Ridley

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this increase is 2¾ per cent. on the original, which is more than the "guiding light"? Surely the Inland Revenue of all people ought to have been able to foresee these increases and have included them in the original Estimates?

Mr. Boyd-Carpenter

This, as my main Answer made clear, was the result of the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal's ruling. I do not myself think that it is at all a bad indication of efficiency that, against a general salary award of 4 per cent., the actual increased financial provision is only 2¾ per cent.