§ 57. Mr. Houghtonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the hardship and disturbance being caused to several hundreds of staff by the pending move of Public Departments, No. 7 Branch, of the Inland Revenue Department from Liverpool to Cardiff; what is the estimated cost of this move, inclusive of removal and lodging expenses of the staff directly and indirectly concerned; what saving and benefit will accrue to the administration; and, in view of the fact that the concentration of a large office in Cardiff staffed largely by people compulsorily transferred there is bound to cause recurring problems of this kind, whether he will postpone further action until the whole project has been reconsidered.
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§ Mr. Boyd-CarpenterThe removal of this office will complete the process, begun in 1948, of bringing together the bulk of the work of the Public Departments Branch of the Inland Revenue in one office at Cardiff. This work is being concentrated in the interests of improved organisation and management, and I could not undertake to reconsider the whole project or to postpone this concluding step. Everything possible is being done to avoid hardship to the staff.
The cost of the move may be of the order of £25,000-£30,000. This outlay will be recouped through staff and other savings within two or three years.