§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many clerical officers have been promoted to executive officers as a consequence of disability to recruit appropriate staff for Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. HigginsThe promotion of clerical officers is part of the normal Civil Service pattern for filling executive officer vacancies. There is no fixed proportion of such vacancies which is earmarked for filling by direct recruitment.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the shorfall of staff in each grade of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in each month since 1st April 1973.
§ Mr. HigginsThe difference between the currently authorised complement of Customs and Excise and the total number of staff in post has been reduced from about 2,000 in April to about 1,500 at present. A breakdown showing the vacancies in each grade would be misleading as it would include posts in the process of being filled by promotion and transfer, posts under review and posts filled by temporary promotion from a lower grade.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the basic wage of each grade of staff in Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.
§ Mr. HigginsThe salaries and wages of most grades in the Department, along with those of other civil servants, are at present being revised. I shall write to the hon. Member when those of the main categories have been settled.
§ Mr. Joel Barnettasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether an increment has been paid to the staff of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise in consequence of the introduction of VAT.
§ Mr. HigginsNo.