§ 14. Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYasked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty whether a deputy-secretary of the Admiralty has been appointed or is to be appointed; what duties he will undertake, and who is at present carrying out these duties; what salary and bonus does this post carry; whether the assistant secretary now becomes first principal assistant secretary; whether the acting staff assistant secretary becomes principal assistant secretary; whether a new post of director of establishments has been created and what salary does it carry, including War bonus; whether the officials previously known as principal clerks now become assistant secretaries, the assistant principal clerks become principals, and the clerks become assistant principals; what increase of salaries, bonuses, and extra expenditure these changes in, and additions to, the civil staff entail; and what is the reason for these changes and additions?
§ Mr. AMERYA deputy-secretary has been appointed, and the other changes referred to have been made, as part of the scheme of reorganisation adopted for all first-class Departments, with a view to more efficient financial control and particularly to carry out the Government's decision that the Permanent 389 Secretary and his staff are to be charged with enlarged duties and responsibilities in regard to such control. The duties of the deputy secretary are to assist the Secretary in his new financial functions and to relieve him of much of his administrative work. The salary of the deputy secretary is £2,200 and that of the director of establishments £1,200, rising to £1,500, and the present rates of bonus are £500 and £750 respectively. The increased cost involved by the various changes referred to is £2,300 in respect of salaries and £435 in respect of bonus.
§ Lieut.-Commander KENWORTHYIs it not a fact that these changes have only just been made, and how can the cost of the Admiralty staff of clerks be cut down when the higher officials are given a rise in status and salary?
§ Colonel WEDGWOODIs this the result of the circular sent out by the Cabinet on the subject of economy?
§ Viscountess ASTORIt is economy.