HC Deb 30 November 1922 vol 159 cc891-2
43. Mr. LAMBERT

asked the Prime Minister whether the Secretary of the Cabinet keeps a record only of its proceedings; and whether he will consider the desirability of such record being kept by the Prime Minister's private secretary, changing with each Government, and thereby avoiding one person being the repository of the opinions of each member of preceding Cabinets?

The PRIME MINISTER

The Secretary of the Cabinet records only the decisions of the Cabinet. I think, therefore, that the second part of the question does not arise.

Mr. LAMBERT

Will my right hon. Friend consider the desirability of the change I have suggested, that there should not be one person employed permanently in this position, but that the Prime Minister's first private secretary should keep the records?

The PRIME MINISTER

I really do not see that there is any advantage in that. The Cabinet Secretary is, like any other, a permanent civil servant, and I think his experience with one Government would be of value to the next.

42. Mr. LAMBERT

asked the Prime Minister the exact number of the Cabinet Secretariat before his advent to office and the number of the Secretariat now; and to what Department have the remaining members been allocated?

Mr. BALDWIN

The staff of the Cabinet Secretariat on the 1st October last was 102; the present staff, which is in a state of transition, is 63. Of this number, 27 have been declared redundant and are under notice, or, in the case of permanent civil servants, awaiting transfer to other Departments where vacancies may exist. The clerical, messenger and cleaning staff work also for the Committee of Imperial Defence. Of the 39 persons by whom the staff has been reduced since the date mentioned, 19 have been transferred to vacancies in the Departments of Works, Customs and Excise, Inland Revenue, Education and Treasury, and 20 have been discharged.

Mr. FOOT

May we be informed how many of the 20 consist of the charwomen employed, to the number of 12, by the Cabinet Secretariat?

Mr. BALDWIN

I shall be only too pleased to look into that.