§ Mr. John Mooreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue has increased its manpower from 69,692 on 1st March 1974 to 80,279 on 1st April 1976; and if he will specify where and in what activities the increases have taken place.
§ Mr. Denzil DaviesThe main reasons for the increase in Inland Revenue manpower over the period mentioned are the growth in the total number of taxpayers and in the number liable at other than the basic rate of tax; the build up of work on the reconstructed National Insurance Scheme under the Social Security Act, 1973; and new work arising from the Finance and Finance (No. 2) Acts 1975. The increases in both work and staff have occurred mainly in local tax and collection offices.