§ Mr. Ashdownasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will describe the system for determining staffing complements of Inland Revenue district offices; and if he will place a copy of these departmental instruments in the Library.
§ Mr. MooreThe Inland Revenue has three local office networks: the tax office network, collection network and the valuation office network. The complementing system is broadly similar for all three. The total staff needed for the network is calculated centrally on the basis of work factors—which are essentially an estimate of the time required to carry out specific elements of work—and projected work loads. These projections are based on statistics collectd from local offices and collated nationally. Once the national ceilings have been set and agreed with the Treasury, complements are then allocated to regional managers on the basis of regional work loads. Regional management then allocates complements to its local offices. This allocation is based not only on local office work loads but also on the specific circumstances of particular offices, for example calibre of staff and numbers of trainees. There are no detailed written instructions.