THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government how many additional civil servants will be required in their estimation to administer the new proposals contained in the Budget Resolutions.]
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, no additional staff will be required in the Customs and Excise Department, and no additional staff will be required in the Inland Revenue to deal with the proposed changes in the personal reliefs. In regard to the other new taxes, I regret that I am not in a position to give an estimate.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, as the Chancellor of the Exchequer indicated in his Budget speech his intention to simplify the tax structure, it was reasonable to expect a reduction in the number of civil servants, particularly those working in the Inland Revenue and at the Treasury. Do Her Majesty's Government regard the proliferation of officials as a good thing?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, the noble Earl is assuming too much. As I said in my original Answer, it is too soon to make an estimate.
§ VISCOUNT MASSEREENE AND FERRARDMy Lords, is the noble Lord aware that the machinery of the Inland Revenue is even now grinding to a halt through overwork? Tax rebate claims are two or three years in arrears, and civil servants are really overworked in this Department.
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, that is an interesting point, but it does not arise on the Question.
§ LORD CARRINGTONMy Lords, could the noble Lord say, although it is not yet known whether there will be a total increase and whether it will be large or not, if he yet knows whether it will be necessary to recruit more persons skilled in valuation, since I think the changes in the Budget may need some 396 change of that kind; and, if so, whether he thinks they are available?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, no doubt there will be some need for a number, particularly in valuation and in regard to the capital gains tax. This matter is being looked at, and there are already a number of potential candidates —shall I say?—who are now undergoing training in this matter.
§ BARONESS HORSBRUGHMy Lords, could the noble Lord say whether the Government have any idea of what the cost will be of those employed in the new housing scheme to decide what fair rents are?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, with the best will in the world, I think that is well beyond the Question on the Paper.
LORD HAWKEMy Lords, in recruiting staff for these various new activities set up by the Government, will they remember that there is a large pool of unused talent in the shape of persons who are compulsorily retired from the Civil Service, banking professions and the like, at the age of about 60, and who are easily capable of performing good service for a short day?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I am grateful for the noble Lord's useful suggestion. No doubt we shall look at it.
THE EARL OF ARRANMy Lords, will Her Majesty's Government give an undertaking to let us know as soon as possible what the figures are likely to be?
§ LORD SHEPHERDMy Lords, I would suggest to the noble Earl that he should attend when we have the Second Reading of the Finance Bill. If he would like to put a question then, we will endeavour to answer it.