§ Mr. W. Brownasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether he is aware of the concern caused by his proposal to amalgamate the Portsmouth and Southampton collections of the Customs and Excise without consultation with the civic or commercial authorities in Portsmouth; that a new office recently prepared in Portsmouth is now to be abandoned and fresh accommodation found and considerable additional expenditure embarked upon to accommodate the combined collections in Southampton; that serious difficulties are likely to arise for the transferred staffs in finding living accommodation in the Southampton district; and whether he is prepared to reconsider this decision to amalgamate the collections?
§ Captain CrookshankI am not aware that this proposal has given rise to any concern on the part of the civic or commercial authorities. The present office at Waterlooville near Portsmouth is temporary and consists of a shop and rooms adapted for the purpose. A sub-office will be continued at Portsmouth but the developments of trade and commerce over recent years made Southampton the more efficient and economical centre for the collection. I am not prepared, therefore, to suspend the amalgamation which I am advised can be carried through without undue disturbance to the staff concerned.