§ Mr. P. Thorneycroftasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware of the overwork enforced on members of the officer grade of the Customs and Excise department, due to shortage of personnel in that grade; and what steps 276W the Government proposes to take to improve the conditions of service in the grade in order to attract an immediate and sufficient increase in recruitment.
§ Sir S. CrippsI am aware that post-war recruitment has not so far restored the strength of the officer grade of the Customs and Excise Service to a proper level. This shortage need not be attributed to the conditions of service, in which improvements have been introduced since the war with the agreement of representatives of the staff. Current hours of work are not above the level of the Civil Service as a whole, and measures which have been taken to stimulate recruitment are expected to improve the situation during the present year.