§ Mr. Banksasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the numbers of civil servants employed in the revenue-collecting departments for the previous three years.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonThe numbers of these figures include both permanent staff civil servants employed in the Inland
134Wmarried couple, a married couple with one child aged 15 years, a married couple with two children aged under 11 years, and a married couple with four children aged 16, 14, 12 and 9 years, assuming earnings equal to 50 per cent., 75 per cent., 100 per cent., 150 per cent. and 200 per cent. of average male manual earnings, that the taxpayer is not contracted out of the State pension scheme, and that he has a mortgage of £12,000.
§ Mr. Robert SheldonI am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind, but the following table shows the gains or losses directly due to the changes in rates of taxes, contributions, and benefits between 1977–78 and 1978–79, at the specified levels of earnings in 1977–78:
Revenue and the Customs and Excise for the post three years are as follows:
Inland Revenue Customs and Excise 1st April 1976 82,926 29,551 1st April 1977 84,572 29,389 1st April 1978 85,329 28.820 In accordance with previous practice these figures include both permanent staff and staff on short-term engagements. 135W Tax revenue is also collected as part of the function of other Departments.