§ Sir R. GOWERasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of officials now engaged at the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue Department and elsewhere in analysing, recording, indexing, and otherwise in connection with the particulars filed of sales and leases and other transactions in land; what the annual cost thereof is; and whether, having regard to the circumstances that the filing of such particulars is in connection with and for the purpose of the Land Value Tax, now in abeyance, he will consider the desirability of discontinuing the expenditure in the future?
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§ Mr. HORE-BELISHANo additional staff has been engaged in the Valuation Office of the Inland Revenue in connection with the production of instruments relating to transfers of land. Additional staff to the number of 32, at an annual average cost slightly in excess of £6,000, has, however, been engaged on this work in other branches of the Department. As I stated, in reply to a question on 13th June last, the information derived from the particulars of transfers of land is required for various purposes and is of considerable value. In these circumstances, I cannot agree to the suggestion contained in the last part of the question.