§ 66. Mr. LAMBERTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Treasury has sanctioned the appointment of 30,000 extra Civil servants over and above the pre-war period mentioned by the First Commissioner of Works in his published statement of 25th March as requiring to be housed, and, if so, what are to be the duties and emoluments of these new officials?
§ The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)The number of additional staff appointed to carry out the work undertaken by the new Departments and the expansion of work in the old Departments—particularly in connection with demobilisation—equals, and indeed exceeds, the figure referred to. The appointment of this staff has been sanctioned by the Treasury to meet public exigencies, but their engagement is in the main on a purely temporary basis, and 584 I trust that only a comparatively small proportion of these posts will be permanently required. I am not satisfied with the pace at which reduction of war staff is proceeding, and the Government are considering what further steps can be taken to expedite it.
§ Mr. LAMBERTMay we take it that it is not the policy of the Government to have 30,000 additional Civil servants aver and above the pre-war period?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe policy of the Government is to reduce the number of Civil servants, or people serving the State, to the numbers required to do the State's business—and to reduce them as rapidly as possible.
§ Mr. LAMBERTWill they number 30,000 extra after the War?
§ Mr. CHAMBERLAINI most certainly hope not, but I cannot say what the number will be.