XN000022-1975-12-03 — Page 12

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WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1975

MORE STAFF FOR INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT

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THE INLAND REVENUE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN PROVIDED WITH ADDITIONAL STAFF THIS YEAR FOR COMMITMENTS ARISING FROM THE BUDGET PROPOSALS AND FROM INCREASED WORKLOAD.

THIS WAS STATED BY THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY, THE HON. PHILIP HADDON-CAVE, IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY THE HON. Q.W. LEE IN THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL THIS AFTERNOON.

THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT THE INCREASED WORKLOAD WAS MAINLY IN THE SALARY TAX SECTION WHERE THERE HAD BEEN A 55 PER CENT INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF TAX FILES IN THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION SECTION FOLLOWING AN INCREASE IN THE BUSINESS REGISTRATION FEE AND ALSO IN THE INSPECTORATE.

+FOR THESE PURPOSES, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID, THE FINANCE COMMITTEE OF THIS COUNCIL HAS APPROVED A FURTHER 55 POSTS FOR THE DEPARTMENT THIS YEAR.

+AND THE STRENGTH OF THE DEPARTMENT HAS INCREASED BY 100 OFFICERS SINCE APRIL 1, NOTWITHSTANDING THE FACT THAT THIS HAS MEANT AN INCREASE OVER THE NET GROWTH OF 1,600 PLANNED FOR THE CIVIL SERVICE THIS YEAR.+

ON STAFFING PROPOSALS FOR THE NEXT FINANCIAL YEAR, MR. HADDON -CAVE SAID THAT IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED IN THE NORMAL WAY AS THE COMMISSIONER OF INLAND REVENUE SUBMITTED THEM.

REFERRING TO PLANS FOR CENTRALISED ACCOMMODATION FOR THE DEPARTMENT, THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY SAID THAT A SEARCH WAS NOW BEING MADE TO LOCATE A SUITABLE BUILDING AND THAT THE DEPARTMENT +SHOULD BE HOUSED UNDER ONE ROOF BY EARLY 1977.+

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