§ 46. Mr. HARMSWORTHasked the Prime Minister whether he is aware that the last issued quarterly return, giving the number of persons employed in Government Departments, shows an increase of 3,390 within three months; whether he will consider the question of imposing limits to staff extensions; and whether he will undertake not to introduce legislation necessitating increased expenditure upon salaries?
§ The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the TREASURY (Mr. Arthur Michael Samuel)My hon. Friend is no doubt referring to the increase in the staff of Government Departments at 1st July last, as compared with 1st April last. That increase is accounted for by the growth of postal and telephone work, by increase of work in connection with the Widows', Orphans' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925, and by temporary increases due to seasonal pressure. The return of the staffs of Government Departments as at 1st October last, which is now available shows a reduction, as compared with 1st July, 1927, of 933, notwithstanding a further increase of 376 due to the continued growth of postal work. The quarterly returns for 1st July and 1st October, 1927, show substantial reductions as compared with the corresponding figures for 1926, notwithstanding increases of 2,749 and 2,684, respectively, in the staff of the Post Office. With regard to the latter part of the question, it is the intention of the Government, as my right hon. Friend indicated in his Budget Speech, to effect a marked contraction in the number of new entrants to the Civil Service during the remaining years of this Parliament. The Government cannot, however, go so far as to undertake that in no circumstances will they introduce legislation that may have the effect of increasing expenditure on staffs.