§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it was with his authority that Mr. J. V. Mulcahy, Surveyor of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise, stated to the Liverpool Branch of the Institute of Exports that on the 29W introduction of value-added tax in 1973 the present number of 2,000 civil servants administering purchase tax would have to be quadrupled.
§ Mr. HigginsThe hon. Member is misinformed. I understand that Mr. Mulcahy said that some increase in the staff of his Department would obviously be necessary; but nothing definite could be said until the details of the new tax were known.