HC Deb 14 June 1921 vol 143 cc199-201
60. Lieut.-Colonel NALL

asked the Lord Privy Seal whether he is aware that the Admiralty Office employs 7,000 clerks in excess of the 1913 establishment, although the fighting personnel of the Navy is reduced; that the Air Ministry employs 4,300 persons in offices for duties which were performed by the War Office and Admiralty in 1913; and whether the Government intends, in the interest of economy, to abolish the Ministry of Labour, the Air Ministry, the Development Commission, and the Ministry of Transport, and to reduce all other Departments to their pre-War establishment of personnel?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN (Leader of the House)

I am informed that the Admiralty excess is rather under 6,000, not 7,000, as stated in my hon. and gallant Friend's question. I cannot accept the suggestion that the work of the Air Ministry to-day is no greater than that performed in respect of the air by the War Office and Admiralty before the War, nor that excesses in these Departments are a reason for abolishing other Departments which have no connection with them. But I agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that it is essential to review the work and staffs of these and, indeed, of all Government Departments, with a view to making every economy consistent with the proper maintenance of public services, and this is now being done.

Sir J. BUTCHERS

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether this review or abolition of excessive staffs will take place in the course of the present year?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

All economies will be made as rapidly as it is possible to make them.

Colonel ASHLEY

Can the right hon. Gentleman state approximately what these 6,000 extra clerks are doing, in view of the fact that we have won the War?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I do not wish to be put in the position of asserting that the retention of these 6,000 clerks, or of any particular number of them for any particular time, is necessary. My hon. and gallant Friend, I am sure, is aware that a great war means a great legacy of additional work, and all kinds of questions arise, as, for instance, in regard to the distribution of medals—

Lieut. - Commander KENWORTHY

And prize money.

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

And other matters, as a direct result of the War. These involve a great amount of work which was non-existent previously.

Major MORGAN

Are we to understand that the Mines Department will now be disbanded, in view of the mines being decontrolled?

Mr. CHAMBERLAIN

I have said nothing to give rise to that question.