§ Captain W. BENNasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether a reduction in the number of officials in the Customs and Excise Department can be secured by a return to the earlier practice by which accountants' certificates were provided of the receipts under the Entertainment Duty?
Lieut.-Commander YOUNGThe work to which the hon. Member refers formerly necessitated the employment of a special staff at headquarters. Under the new arrangement it is being performed by the local officers of Customs and Excise throughout the country as part of their ordinary duties, and the headquarters staff has been disbanded. A return to the earlier practice would involve again setting up this staff, and it is doubtful if the total number of officials would be reduced.