§ 13. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many shorthand writers are employed at the Admiralty now and the corresponding figure in 1914?
§ Mr. HARMSWORTHDoes the hon. Gentleman think any economy can take place in regard to the number?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe whole question is being considered in connection with the Estimates which will be presented. In most commercial firms a shorthand-typist is considered to be a labour-saving device.
§ Mr. BUCHANANDoes the hon. Gentleman think it will be an economy to dismiss these people, and put thorn on the Employment Exchange?
§ Sir FREDRIC WISEAre these employés typists, as well as shorthand-writers?
§ Sir F. WISEAre they typists as well?
§ 14. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many messengers and cleaners are employed at the Admiralty and the corresponding figure for 1914?
Mr. DAVIDSON238 messengers and 143 cleaners are now employed as compared with 221 and 101 respectively in 1914.
§ 15. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the First Lord of the Admiralty how many persons are employed in and what is the cost of the technical costings section of the Admiralty, whether this section is productive of economy, and how the work was carried out in 1914?
Mr. DAVIDSONThe present staff of the technical costs section consists of 15 technical officers and one clerk. The total cost of the salaries is £6,111 19s. per annum, this cost being shared with the Admiralty by other Departments of State which utilise the services of the section. The section is productive of economy, especially in those cases where competition is not available. In 1914 there was no such specialised organisation. The section was transferred from the Ministry of Munitions to the Admiralty on the recommendation of the House of Commons Committee on National Expenditure after the War.