Inland Revenue staff numbers surge
Staff numbers at the Inland Revenue have surged by more than 7,000, with the numbers driven up by the new tax credits system.
The Revenue puts the increase down to preparation for new tax credits in April and the transfer of child benefits staff from the Department for Work and Pensions.
But the DWP’s staff numbers also increased, despite the transfer of staff to the Revenue.
Overall, official figures showed that the number of civil servants increased by 22,000 to 512,400 in the year to April. The figures were seized on by the Conservative party as evidence that much of revenue raised from higher taxes has been wasted on bureaucracy rather than real improvement in public services.