asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is the estimated shortfall in revenue to the Treasury caused by shortage of staff in the Inland Revenue Department;(2) what would be the annual cost of filling all the present vacancies in the Inland Revenue Department;(3) what is the total staff shortage in the Inland Revenue Department; and if he will give the figures on a regional basis.

At 1st June 1975 the number of staff in post in the Inland Revenue Department, excluding casual staff, was about 1,650 less than the manpower forecast. A division of this total by regions is not readily available. The annual salary cost of filling these vacancies would be in the region of £4·5 million. It is not possible to make any realistic estimate of revenue lost because of shortages of staff.