§ Mr. Trotterasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of (a) the Inland Revenue and (b) the Customs and Excise Department in the current year; what percentage increase this represents on last year; what are the reasons for the increase; and what have been the increases in staff numbers in each case.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe total costs of the Inland Revenue, including supplementary services rendered by other Departments, are estimated at £385 million for 1975–76, which represents an increase of 34.4 per cent. on the previous year. The main reasons for the increase are additional staff, higher unit staff costs, increased postal and telephone charges, and a substantial increase in the cost of accommodation, due mainly to a change in the basis of attribution. The number of staff employed, including casual staff, increased by 4,719 between 1st April 1974 and 1st November 1975.
The total costs of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise are estimated at £176 million for 1975–76, which represents an increase of 42.8 per cent. on the previous year. The main reasons for the increase are additional staff, higher staff costs and increases in the costs of accommodation and superannuation. The number of staff employed increased by 4,414 between 1st April 1974 and 1st November 1975.