asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many additional civil servants will have to be employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise as a result of the introduction of multi-rate VAT.

In his Budget Statement, my right hon. Friend said that an allowance of 1,000 staff had been made for the contingency of a multi-rate VAT and Customs and Excise are in the process of recruiting these staff. The number of staff eventually employed will, of course, depend upon experience of operating the new rate structure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the extra annual cost of administering VAT due to the recent introduction of a higher rate on certain items.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19th May 1975], gave the following information:On the basis of 1,000 staff, as mentioned by my right hon. Friend in his Budget Statement, the figure would be in the region of £6 million; but the staff actually employed will, of course, depend upon experience of operating the new rate structure.