§ 47. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of 2033 the £223,000,000 Estimate for the Civil Service is in respect of salaries to Civil Servants; and how much of this latter amount is payable to Post Office officials and officials of the Revenue Department, respectively?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe Estimate of £223,000,000 to which the hon. and gallant Member refers is the net estimate for the Civil Services, and does not include the Revenue Departments, with the Post Office, for which the Estimate for 1925–26 is £64,350,000. These figures are net estimates, after deducting receipts appropriated in aid of Votes. The total provision for salaries and wages of Civil Servants in the Civil Service Estimates is approximately 17¼ millions (this figure does not include Ministers' salaries, diplomatic and consular staffs, overtime payments, employers' insurance contributions and certain miscellaneous items not by way of remuneration, neither does it include industrial staffs). The provision for salaries and wages in the Revenue Departments, calculated on a, similar basis and including Post Office manipulative staffs but excluding industrial staffs, is approximately £38,000,000.
§ Mr. A. V. ALEXANDERMay I ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he has seen the statement attributed to him that he docs not intend to reduce any salaries of civil servants, and whether he will confirm that statement?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThere is another question on the Paper on that subject.
§ 49. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to allay the apprehension of civil servants regarding the possibility of the reduction of their remuneration, he will consider the possibility of making an early statement on the subject?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, Sir.
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHMay I ask whether the findings of the Committee presided over by Lord Askwith in 1920 are to be absolutely final and permanent?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHThen the Committee over which Lord Askwith presided was on this particular question—
Mr. DEPUTY-SPEAKERThe right hon. Gentleman was merely asked whether he would make a statement, and he said he would.
§ Mr. ALEXANDERMay I repeat the question I put to the Chancellor of the Exchequer just now, whether he has seen the statement made by another Member of the House attributing to the Chancellor the statement that he does not intend to reduce salaries?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLYes, I have seen that statement. All these matters must be under the consideration of the Cabinet in the next few weeks, but I expect before Christmas, or at any rate early in the now year, we shall be able to make a statement of our general policy in this matter, but at the present time the Cabinet claim the right to examine without restriction every aspect and branch of public expenditure.
§ Mr. R. MORRISONCan the, right hon. Gentleman say, then, that a Member of this House, who made the statement that he was authorised by the Chancellor of the Exchequer to say there would be no reduction, made it without his authority?
§ 59. Mr. H. WILLIAMSasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the total amount provided in the Supply Estimates of this year for the salaries, wages and bonuses of all the civilians employed in all departments of State except workmen in the royal arsenals and dockyards, and persons not engaged in administrative work in the Post Office and the Office of Works?
§ Mr. McNEILLThe total gross provision in the 1925–26 Estimates (including expenditure recovered in whole or in part from fees or other sources and appropriated in aid of Votes) for salaries and wages, including bonus, of all civilians employed in the Civil Service and Revenue Departments, except workmen employed by the Office of Works and manipulative and industrial workers in the Post Office, is approximately £32,800,000, of Which £1,130,000 represents the total provision for the Diplomatic Consular and other Imperial services abroad. In addition there is pro- 2035 vision for analogous civilian staff in the employ of the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry of approximately £5,250,000.