45. Mr. DOYLEasked the Prime Minister if he will give the figures for the number of people earning £3 per week and under employed in the Government's clerical and administrative work discharged during the last six months who were not in Government employ before the War, and the number still employed; the correspondng figures for those paid over £3 per week; the number of permanent Government officials not employed before the War and being paid over £400 per year who had been discharged, and how many were now employed; if those Government Servants whose salaries had been raised because they were in charge of large staffs, or because they were heads of Departments, have now had their salaries correspondingly reduced, the reason given for such increase no longer holding good; how many complete clerical and administrative staffs have been abolished, and whether any of the permanent Government servants formerly in charge of these had had their salaries reduced; and how many officers in receipt of retired pay are still being employed by the Government, and of these how many are being paid over £500 per year?
The CHANCELLOR of the EX-CHEQUER (Mr. Chamberlain)The various particulars desired by the hon. Member could only be obtained by calling for detailed returns from Government Departments, the preparation of which would involve an expenditure of time and labour altogether out of proportion to the value of the information obtained. If the hon. Member has a particular case or cases in mind, perhaps he will address a specific inquiry to the Minister concerned. As regards the fifth part of the question, temporary increases of pay to permanent Civil servants for extra duties or responsibilities are withdrawable when those extra duties or responsibilites cease, and have no reason to doubt that this condition is duly observed.
§ Mr. ROSEMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman if he does not think that the process adopted by the Pensions Ministry would relieve the situation, and that the easiest way would be to sack all the low-paid officials, rather than trouble about their wages?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINI understand that it is the desire of the House, as it is the desire of the Government, to dispense with any officials whose services are no longer required.
§ Mr. ROSEIs it only those who are getting low salaries who are not required? Are there none who are getting large salaries who are not required?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINCertainly. The question of whether the salary is high or low does not affect the usefulness or necessity of the services rendered.
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe hon. Member is singularly unfortunate in insinuating as a statement of fact something which is not the case.