§ 63. Mr. AYLESasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury whether his attention has been called to the Treasury Return Cmd. 2150, dealing with staffs employed in Government Departments: whether, during the month of May, reductions took place in the Pensions, Labour, and other Departments of over 600 per- 588 sons; and what number of these found employment in other Departments by means of transfer?
Mr. GRAHAMThe Return in question relates to the month of April. The reductions in the staffs of certain Departments, which are correctly stated, include cases of resignation as well as discharge. The staffs of other Departments increased during the same period by more than 400; but it would be impossible without very elaborate inquiry to ascertain how many of the individuals discharged have since been reallocated to other Departments.
§ Mr. AYLESWill the hon. Gentleman see that as far as possible no actual discharges do take place and that where persons are found to be superfluous in one Department they are transferred to another?
Mr. GRAHAMThat is exactly what we have tried to do, and I am glad to be able to Say that we have achieved a very considerable measure of success.