§ Matthew TaylorTo ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many fully-trained Inland Revenue inspectors there were in(a) 1985, (b) 1990, (c) 1995 and (d) 2001; how many general grade inspectors there were in (i) 1985, (ii) 1990, (iii) 1995 and (iv) 2001; how many unfilled general and fully-trained inspector posts there were in each of the above years; and if he will make a statement. [82042]
§ Dawn PrimaroloOrganisational groupings of Inland Revenue staff were significantly changed in 1993. Consequently the fully-trained inspectors fell mostly into a new Band B group, and the general group of inspectors was mainly replaced by a much broader grouping of them and other staff in a new Band C group.
The Inland Revenue estimates that the number of fully-trained Inspectors in Band B at 1 April 1995 and 1 April 2001 stood at 1,900 and 1,800 respectively. The total number of staff in Band C were 7,042 at 1 April 1995 and 8,477 at 1 April 2001. A new personnel records system was introduced in 1997, replacing the database for earlier years. Using other, less reliable data the Inland Revenue estimates there were some 2,500 fully-trained and 4,500 general group inspectors in 1985, and 2,100 fully-trained and 5,100 general group inspectors in 1990.
Records are not kept for the numbers of past staff vacancies.