§ Major HUNTasked the Minister of National Service why there are still over forty men of military age, nearly all of whom are English, Scotch, or Irish, doing clerks' work at Australia House at an average. salary of between £200 and £300 a year?
§ Mr. BECKThe hon. and gallant Member's question appears to refer to the Income Tax Repayment Branch of the Inland Revenue, which is at present quartered at Australia House. I am informed by the Board of Inland Revenue that there are at present thirty-one men of military age in that branch, all of whom are over thirty-two and most of whom are over thirty-five years of age. The branch, the work of which is highly technical, has already been greatly diluted, having lost 114 men out of an authorised establishment of 184, and I am satisfied that further reduction of the skilled staff would not be in the public interest.