§ 89. Mr. G. LOCKER-LAMPSONasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping how many officials are now employed by his Department and the amount of their salaries?
Colonel WILSONThe number is 849 at headquarters and 122 at outports, and their salaries £162,220 and £46,800 a year respectively. These amounts do not include the substantive pay and bonus of permanent Civil Servants loaned from other Departments, which are borne on the Votes of their own Departments.
§ Mr. LOCKER-LAMPSONCan the hon. and gallant Gentleman indicate when this Department will be finally closed down?
Colonel WILSONThat is a question which has been asked on several occasions. I can only refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by the Lord Privy Seal about a fortnight ago.
§ Mr. ROSECan the hon. and gallant Gentleman tell us to which other Departments all the salaried officials of this Department are to be transferred?
Colonel WILSONI would remind my hon. Friend that a considerable number of the officials working in the Ministry of Shipping have come from the Admiralty, and will, under ordinary circumstances, be returned to the Admiralty. I am, however, laying a White Paper on the Table of the House at a very early date—either to-day or to-morrow—explaining all the duties carried out by the Ministry of Shipping at the present time, and if any hon. Member has any question on which I can give him information I shall be glad to answer it.