§ Mr. Bishopasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the number of employees required in the Surtax Office as a result of his Budget proposals; how many more will be required on other Inland Revenue duties; and what is his estimate of the number of employees in Customs and Excise and the Treasury required as a result of selective employment tax and purchase tax changes and of the increased number required for the introduction of value-added tax.
§ Mr. HigginsThere will be no immediate change in the number of staff in the Surtax Office as a result of the Budget proposals and changes in other parts of the Inland Revenue Department will in the main balance out. Unification of income tax and surtax is expected ultimately to yield a substantial staff saving.
The number of additional staff in Customs and Excise following the discontinuance of purchase tax and the introduction of a value-added tax will depend on decisions about the form and coverage of the value-added tax, which will be made after consultation with interested parties, as envisaged in the Green Paper.
There are no staffing implications for the Treasury.