§ Mr. Simon Mahonasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many persons from the Department of Inland Revenue are now employed in Bootle; what provision is being made for further recruitment and training of young persons in the area; if he will encourage the retraining and employment of men and women from older industries and from varying age groups; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. TaverneAbout 1,800.
Young people under the age of 28 with A level qualifications are recruited as tax officers higher grade from competitions run by the Civil Service Commission and advertised in the national and local press. There will be over 100 vacancies in the Bootle area in 1970 and a special local recruitment drive is being organised.
About 250 tax officers, assistant collectors and clerical assistants, mainly young people with O level or equivalent qualifications, are at present being recruited each year in Bootle through local competitive interviews. Older persons with O level qualifications can compete for these vacancies.
All Inland Revenue recruits are given the necessary training. I do not consider that any special arrangements are called for in relation to the training and employment of men and women from the older industries.