HC Deb 02 March 1978 vol 945 cc349-51W
Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total number of staff in local tax offices or valuation offices of the Inland Revenue who are engaged wholly or mainly in assisting the development land tax office in Middlesbrough to operate development land tax; and what element of the £1,550,000 administrative costs of operating the tax is attributable to work conducted elsewhere than Middlesbrough.

Mr. Denzil Davies

It is estimated that the equivalent of about 68 full-time staff in local valuation offices are engaged upon work for the Development Land Tax Office at an annual administrative cost of about £425,000.

Mr. Michael Latham

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will bring up to date the table of staff in post at the development land tax office set out in the Minister of State's reply to the hon. member for Melton on 22nd November; and by how much natural wastage or staff transfers have reduced the total of 153 staff in post on 1st November;

(2) what level the Inland Revenue staffing survey recommeded that the 153 staff at the development land tax office in Middlesbrough should be reduced; in what time scale these reductions were recommended to be effected; and what action has so far been taken, in accordance with normal procedures of consultation with trade unions, to implement them;

(3) how many of the six principals in post on 1st November 1977 in the development land tax office in Middlesbrough have been transferred to other Civil Service positions outside the office since the Inland Revenue staffing survey; and what is the present establishment for principals;

(4) how many of the 15 senior executive officers in post in the development land tax office in Middlesbrough last November have been transferred to other Civil Service positions outside the office since the Inland Revenue staffing survey; and what is the present establishment for senior executive officers;

(5) whether the findings of the staffing survey of the Inland Revenue into the development land tax office in Middles brough have now been fully discussed with the trade unions; and what changes in organisation and staffing practice have been implemented as a result.

Mr. Derail Davies

At 27th February the staff in post at the Development Land Tax Office numbered 149, constituted as in the table below. The total is four less than on 1st November 1977. The number of principals remains as before but the senior executive officers have declined by two.

Normal consultations with local management and the trade unions on the recommendations of the staffing survey report are taking place. The work load has increased since the survey took place, and until the consultations are completed a formal complement cannot be determined.

Grade Numbers
Assistant Secretary 1
Senior Principal 2
Principal 6
SEO 13
HEO 31
EO 37
CO 28
CA 16
PS 2
Superintendent of Typists 1
Typist 8
Telephonist 2
Messenger 2
Total 149