HC Deb 15 July 1918 vol 108 cc681-2
38. Mr. WATT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether his Department employs ninety-seven men in Scotland at salaries over £200 a year; whether one is paid £1,000 a year, one £900, three £800, six £600, nine £500, five £450, seven £400, one £365, and seven £350; and, if so, whether it was found necessary by his Department to pay such salaries in war-time to get the duties of his Department in Scotland satisfactorily performed?

Mr. PARKER

The statements in the first two parts of the question are substantially correct. It does not appear to me that the salaries are excessive or the appointments too numerous, having regard to the variety, extent, and importance of the duties to be performed.

Mr. WATT

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether those salaries are included in the £1,750,000 of salaries paid per annum, as indicated by the representative of the Department in another place?

Mr. PARKER

I cannot say. The hon. Member had better put a question down.

40. Mr. WATT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Food whether of the ninety-seven men employed by his Department in Scotland at salaries of from £1,000 to £200 per annum seventy-six are of military age; if so, whether any attempt was made by his Department to get men to fill these posts over military age or who had served in the Army, had done their share of fighting, and had been discharged; and was this attempt unsuccessful?

Mr. PARKER

The answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, taking the military age as under fifty-one. Every effort has been made to fill the necessary posts with men not available for military service, but in view of the onerous nature of the duties to be performed, the special qualifications needed, and the urgency of the situation, it was not always possible to avoid the employment of men liable to some form of duty with the forces. The entire provincial staff of the Ministry is being drastically reviewed by the Committee appointed by the Minister of National Service, whose operations are expected to be complete in two or three weeks.

Mr. WATT

Can the hon. Gentleman say whether the Department have tried to get discharged men who have done their fighting?

Mr. PARKER

I cannot say as to that, but the hon. Member will realise from the answer I have read out that this matter is being carefully looked into.

Colonel WEDGWOOD

Could not all these men be taken into the Army and given commissions as Staff captains, and so be employed at a lower rate of pay?