60. Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSasked the Food Controller how many officials were employed by the Ministry of Food at a salary of —100 a year and upwards on 11th November, 1918, and at the present time, respectively?
Mr. ROBERTSThe number of salaried officials employed in my Department at 11th November, 1918, was 2,650; it is now 1,500. If members of the subordinate clerical staff in receipt of £100 a year or more be included, the total numbers are:
| 11th November, 1918 | … | … | 5,000 |
| Present time | … | … | 3,250 |
§ I may add, however, that in view of the decision of the Government that the Ministry of Food shall continue over the coming winter, my difficulty is not to reduce the staff of the Department but to maintain it.
Lieut.-Colonel GUINNESSMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether it is a fact that these salaries are paid out of money charged to British cattle, while no part of it consists of charges on imported meat?
Mr. ROBERTSI would not say all of it is borne that way, but it is a fact that general administrative charges of the Department arc included in the prices charged for food.
§ Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHYArising out of the decision to keep the Food Ministry in being, may I ask the right hon. Gentleman if it is the policy of the Ministry to take on ex-soldiers and ex-sailors—
§ Mr. SPEAKERThat hardly arises out of the question of the Paper, which deals solely with the number of officials employed.