HC Deb 06 March 1922 vol 151 cc855-6
70. Sir JAMES REMNANT

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Transport how many staff officers were employed by that Department on 1st September, 1921, and 1st March, 1922; what was the cost of these men; and what notice is necessary to terminate their appointments?

Mr. NEAL

The term "staff officer" is one commonly used in the Civil Service to denote certain classes of civil servants engaged on clerical or executive duties. So far as the Ministry of Transport is concerned, 36 and 25 of these officers were employed in Great Britain on the 1st September, 1921, and 1st March, 1922, respectively, at an annual rate of pay—including bonus—of£27,182 and£17,177 respectively. The large majority of these officers are established civil servants, and are employed under the normal regulations of the Civil Service.

Sir J. REMNANT

Is it the case that no more than the 36 were appointed staff officers when they were asked for when the Department was formed?

Mr. NEAL

I was not referring to the date when the Department was formed. The hon. Member's question refers to two specific dates, and my answer is limited to those specific dates.

Sir J. REMNANT

The hon. Gentleman makes some distinction between the officers the number of whom I asked him to give and certain other established civil servants. Naturally, when I asked with reference to staff officers, I meant those asked for as staff officers by the Department when it was formed.

Mr. NEAL

When my hon. Friend sees the answer he will see that the distinction is not the one that he understood. The whole of the staff officers with, I think, two exceptions are established civil servants.

Colonel ASHLEY

Can the hon. Gentleman say what their duties are?

Major HOWARD

Can the hon. Gentleman say what these officers are doing?

Mr. NEAL

That is quite impossible in answer to a supplementary question, but if my hon. and gallant Friends will refer to the Estimates, they will find the nature of the duties stated there.

Sir J. REMNANT

Were these officers established civil servants before they were appointed to the Ministry of Transport?

Mr. NEAL

I could not answer that question without notice.