§ 98. Mr. MACQUISTENasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if it is practicable to inform the House how many officials and employés there are supported out of public funds in Great Britain and Ireland; and, if so practicable, will he give the figures so that the public may realise the burden to the national purse of maintaining individuals who are not engaged directly in private production?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe number of employés directly employed in Government offices may be seen from the monthly 665 Returns of staffs, the latest of which is published as Command Paper 448. 'The employés in Government industrial establishments are not included in these figures, and vary considerably from time to time, but the number on the 1st November was approximately 178,900. Figures are not available showing the number of persons not directly employed by the Government but in receipt of salaries defrayed in whole or in part from public funds or grants, for example—teachers, police, and other employés of local authorities. I am not sure whether such an implication is intended in the last part of the question, but, if so, we cannot accept the suggestion that the salaries of persons employed on public services are an unnecessary burden on the national funds.