HC Deb 17 February 1926 vol 191 c1929
42. Colonel WOODCOCK

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the figures showing the comparison of numbers engaged on the total staff of the Ministry for the following dates, 1st January, 1917, 1st January, 1924, 1st tiatluary, 1925, and 1st January, 1926; and whether he anticipates any reduction of numbers during the present year?

Sir A. STEEL-MAITLAND

The staff of the Ministry working on the dates mentioned—apart from cleaners—was as follows:

1st January, 1917 5,877*
1st January, 1924 14,511
1st January, 1925 15,316
1st January, 1926 14,574
* Excluding officers engaged on services subsequently transferred to the Governments of Northern and Southern Ireland.
The highest number reached was 28,407 at 1st July, 1921.

In addition there were the following numbers of industrial stiff at Government instructional factories:

1,019 at 1st January, 1924; 654 at 1st January, 1925, and 407 at 1st January, 1926. The corresponding staff at 1st January, 1917, was not under the Ministry of Labour.

The number of staff required this year depends principally on the number of registered unemployed, but no efforts are spared to restrict the number to the narrowest possible limits compatible with efficiency.