1. Lieut.-Col. DALRYMPLE WHITEasked the Minister of Pensions what reduction of staff was effected in the Ministry of Pensions daring the year 1925; and what were the respective percentages of reduction in Scotland and in the rest of the country?
§ The MINISTER of PENSIONS (Major Tryon)The staff of the Ministry were reduced, during 1925, by 4,356, from 16,475 to 12,119; the percentage reduction in Scotland being 23.5 and, in the rest of the country, 26.7.
Lieut.-Colonel WHITECan the right hon. Gentleman say why the staff in Scotland has been consistently larger through out in proportion?
§ Major TRYONI think the main reason is that the region is still surviving in Scotland, but I am glad to say that many of the staff in Scotland, who have done such good work, have passed the recent examination. Many of them, therefore, will not lose their employment.