§ 40. Lieut.-Colonel HENEAGEasked the Secretary of State for War if the reduction in the civil staff in the War Office is keeping pace with the reduction in the military staff; and what is the percentage reduction in each case since 1918?
§ Captain KINGThe answer to the first part of the question is in the affirmative. The civil staff has been reduced by 88 per cent, since November, 1918, and the military staff by 89 per cent.
§ 42. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he will explain the delay in the fixing of the civilian clerical complements for the Royal Military College, Woolwich, and the application to that office of the terms of the Report of the reorganisation sub-committee of the National Whitley Council, which were published over five years ago?
§ Captain KINGThe complements for this office are in an advance stage of preparation. I do not think there has been any undue delay, having regard to the difficulty of carrying out a large scheme of reorganisation, which involves the fixing of permanent establishments on a new basis for all War Department out-station offices.
§ 43. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware that the scheme of clerical reorganisation approved by the Treasury in May, 1925, has not yet been applied to the department of the chief inspector of armaments at Woolwich; that an official examination of the work in this establishment was carried out as far back as 1st July, 1925: and will he state the reason for the delay, which is causing dissatisfaction among the members of the staff?
§ Captain KINGComplements have now been fixed, and will be put into force at an early date.
§ 44. Mr. SNELLasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is cognisant of the fact that certain members of the civilian clerical staff of the Artillery College, Woolwich, with many years of approved and satisfactory service in the department to their credit, are still in receipt of a maximum basic rate of pay of 32s. per week; and whether he will say what action he proposes to take to bring these men within the ægis of the Report of the reorganisation sub-committee of the National Whitley Council?
§ Captain KINGThe reply to the first part of the question is in the affirmative, and as regards the second part, I would refer the hon. Member to my answer on 7th instant to a question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth North regarding the scheme of reorganisation which is being applied to all War Department out-station offices'.
§ 60. Lord H. CAVENDISH-BENTINCKasked the Secretary of State for War whether he is aware of the widespread discontent prevalent in the out-station offices consequent upon the delay in applying the clerical reorganisation scheme in these offices; and whether he can now state the exact date on which the new scheme will be introduced?
§ Captain KINGThe reorganisation involves the fixing of establishments for every out-station office and the re-grading of every individual clerk therein. Complements have been fixed and re-grading carried out in several offices, and every effort is being made to expedite progress in the case of the offices which still remain to be dealt with; but in view of the many considerations involved in fixing complements on a permanent basis, I regret that I cannot yet fix a definite date for the completion of the work.