§ 27. Mr. Dempseyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for increasing the number of valuation officers 1073 in the Inland Revenue department, in view of the present shortage of staff and the additional duties which will be imposed upon them.
§ Mr. DiamondThe Inland Revenue will continue to recruit suitably qualified valuers. It also proposes to increase substantially the number of trainees in the Valuation Office who will prepare for the professional examinations. A new competition to this end will be announced shortly.
§ Mr. DempseyIn view of the additional work which will be imposed on this Department, and as it is already snowed under, can my right hon. Friend say whether there is any intention to see that adequate salaries are paid, as one gets only what one pays for in this life?
§ Mr. DiamondSalaries are subject to the usual negotiating machinery.
§ Mr. John HallWould not the Chief Secretary agree that he, his right hon. Friend, and the Government were warned that they were placing an intolerable burden on the Inland Revenue when the Capital Gains Tax and the proposals on the Land Commission were announced? Would he agree that perhaps in addition to making the quinquennial valuation a victim of this lack of officials, the Capital Gains Tax should also be dropped?
§ Mr. DiamondThere is no intolerable burden on the officials, and as a result of the measures being taken it is not expected that there will be any undue delay in coping with the responsibilities that are put on them.