§ 50. Colonel WOODCOCKasked the Secretary of State for War if he will give the figures showing the total War Office personnel, service and civilian staff, for 31st March. 1913, and at the present date, 375 as well as the total strength of the forces of the Army for the corresponding dates; and what is the cause of the present increase in the proportional strength of the War Office staff?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Captain Douglas King)As regards the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer given to the hon. Member for Elland (Mr. Robinson) on 22nd February. As regards the last part of the question, there is a very full explanation of the principal causes of the permanent increases of the work at the War Office in Appendix 32 of the First and Second Reports of the Select Committee on Public Accounts, 1926.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKIn view of the figures that have been given, can the hon. and gallant Gentleman explain how it is that while the strength of the Army has been considerably reduced, the War Office strength is far above that of pre-War days, and is being increased; and how he settles this in connection with the economy that is proposed?
§ Captain KINGIf my hon. and gallant Friend will refer to the Report of the Public Accounts Committee, to which I have referred him, he will find two pages of detailed explanation.
§ Colonel WOODCOCKI have, but that does not explain it.
§ Sir J. NALLIs it not a fact that the Geddes Committee indicated that a large volume of the correspondence dealt with by the War Office was largely created by that staff?
§ Captain KINGThe recommendations of the Geddes Committee were very largely carried out at the War Office.