HC Deb 19 May 1919 vol 116 cc29-30
61. Viscount DUNCANNON

asked the Secretary to the Treasury if he will give the number of persons in the employ of each of the Government Departments, respectively, on 4th August, 1914, 11th November, 1918, and 11th May, 1919?

Mr. BALDWIN

A Return of the staff employed in each of the Government Departments on 1st August, 1914, 11th November, 1918, and 31st March, 1919, is in preparation, and will be circulated as soon as possible. The question of obtaining regular periodical Returns of staff is under consideration by the Treasury, and in the circumstances I hope the Noble Member will not press for particulars of the staffs as on 11th May, 1919.

Viscount DUNCANNON

Will this Return which is being prepared be brought up to date?

Mr. LAMBERT

Will the hon. Gentleman say whether the staffs of the new Ministries that have been created will be included in this Return?

Mr. BALDWIN

Obviously the Return would be incomplete without them. With regard to what my Noble Friend said, as I have intimated, the Return will be taken to 31st March of this year, and we are now considering the question of having periodical Returns, and each Return will be up to date for this year.

Sir C. HENRY

How often will this periodical Return be made?

Mr. BALDWIN

That is exactly the point we are considering.