Customs and Excise Staff

HC Deb 26 November 1968 vol 774 cc72-3W

76. Mr. John Smith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will appoint management consultants to increase the productivity of Customs and Excise staff.

Mr. Harold Lever

Customs and Excise have their procedures and practices constantly under review with the aim of increasing efficiency. I see no case at present for appointing management consultants.

77. Mr. John Smith

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the pay increases which Customs and Excise staff are due to receive next January are related to increased productivity.

Mr. Harold Lever

The pay increases are due under a national agreement applying to the Civil Service as a whole and are the balance of increases which were staged in accordance with the Government's prices and incomes policy.