§ 72. Colonel YATEasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase since the Armistice in the number of persons employed in the Civil Liabilities Department, and the extra cost involved thereby?
§ The MINISTER of LABOUR (Dr. Macnamara)I have been asked to reply. At the date of the Armistice the staff consisted of 609 persons, at an estimated annual cost of £79,000. The staff were employed upon the scheme originated in 1916 for meeting the contractual obligations of soldiers with the Colours. After the Armistice an entirely new scheme for giving assistance towards resettlement in civil life was introduced.
As, up to the present, some 246,889 applications under the second scheme have been received, it will be obvious that an increase in the staff was inevitable. The actual increase in numbers has been very small, the total of persons now employed being 660. The estimated annual cost is £136,000, but it should be pointed out that a considerable propor- 2566 tion of this cost is due to war bonus and increases to meet the cost of living.
§ Sir M. DOCKRELLHow much of that expenditure relates to Ireland?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAI should prefer to have notice of that question.