§ Mr. VIANTasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether there has been an increase in the number of Customs and Excise officers since the introduction of the Finance Act of this 2554W year, and, if so, to what extent; whether there have been transfers from other departments to the Treasury; and to what extent has overtime had to be worked?
§ Mr. McNEILLAs regards the first part of the question, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given on this subject to the hon. and gallant Member for Central Hull (Lieut.-Commander Kenworthy) on the 23rd July and the 24th November last. On the assumption that the hon. Member is referring to transfers to the Customs and Excise Department, the answer to the second part of the question is in the negative. As regards the third part, it is not possible to frame any reliable estimate of the amount of overtime due to the new duties imposed by the last Finance Act, as the work arising there from is performed mainly by officers engaged on the general work of the Department.