§ Mr. WILLIAM THORNEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the terms of the answer given on 12th January last regarding the weekly wages paid to watchers in the Customs and Excise Department, and as it appeared to be purely a matter of economy, will he be prepared to take the necessary steps to ascertain whether sufficient money could be saved in other directions of the Department to meet the cost involved in satisfying the demands of the watchers for an improved scale of pay?
§ Mr. McKENNAAs regards the demands of the watchers for additional pay, I can only refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave him on the 12th January last. I am afraid I cannot accept the suggestion that savings effected by economies in a Department should be earmarked for improving the pay of members of that Department.
§ Mr. THORNEalso asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of the present chief inspector's department of His Majesty's Customs and Excise; whether any other branch of the Civil Service has a similar staff; and if he will consider if it would be more economical and equally effective if provision was made at each port or collection for the ordinary leave and sickness of the respective staffs?
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§ Mr. McKENNAThe cost is approximately £90,000. The Inland Revenue Department has a similar staff. The present system of providing, from the chief inspector's branch, necessary relief for ordinary leave and sickness of surveyors and collectors throughout the United Kingdom was adopted after careful consideration at the time of the amalgamation of the Customs and Excise services as preferable on grounds of economy and efficiency to a scheme for providing a local relieving staff at each port and collection.