§ Mr. RHYS DAVIESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the increase in the number of the staff necessitated by the administration of the Import Duties Act, 1932, and the approximate annual increase in salaries?
§ Mr. HORE-BELISHA:The staff of the Customs and Excise Department has been increased since October, 1931, by 1,323 at an approximate annual cost of £265,000 in consequence of work arising out of a number of Acts, including besides the Import Duties Act, 1932, the Finance Act (Tea Duty), the Irish Free State (Special Duties) Act and the Ottawa Agreement Act. The increase has been mainly due to the first mentioned Act, but it is not possible to allocate it definitely. The staff of the Import Duties Advisory Committee (including the Chairman and members of the committee) consists of 97, estimated to cost £44,224 in the next financial year. There is also a small section in the Board of Trade, 28W consisting at present of about 12 subordinate staff costing approximately £2,500 per annum which is necessitated by the administration of the Import Duties Act, 1932.