§ 65. Major O'NEILLasked what reduction in the numbers of the staff and employés, male and female, of the Ministry has taken place since 11th November, 1918?
Mr. HOPESince the date of the Armistice the headquarters staff of the Ministry of Munitions has been reduced from 25,144 to 16,101. This represents a reduction of 9,043 persons, of whom 2,541 were transferred to the Demobilisation 1071 and Resettlement Department of the Ministry of Labour, and 6,502 have been discharged.
§ Major O'NEILLWill the hon. Gentleman give an undertaking that the rate of discharge will be at any rate increased in the near future?
§ Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKWhy has the rate of demobilisation been so slow?
Mr. HOPEI am afraid that I cannot give an absolute promise. Hundreds have been discharged during the last fortnight. But the business of the liquidation of contracts demands a large staff, and hon. Members may appreciate that sometimes it is quite as complicated a business to get out of your liabilities as to incur them.