§ 51. Sir F. SANDERSONasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether his attention has been drawn to the increase in the staffs of the Revenue Departments, amounting to 3,326, and in the Ministry of Health, amounting to 631, during the past 12 months; and whether these increases are caused by the amount of additional work undertaken by the respective Departments?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI am aware of these increases which, as explained in the statement presented to Parliament, are due, as was foreseen, to the growth of postal and other revenue business and to additional work placed upon the Ministry of Health and Scottish Board of Health by the Widows' and Old Age Contributory Pensions Act, 1925. As stated in the reply given to the hon. Member for Thanet (Mr. Harmsworth) on the 16th November, there has been a substantial decrease in the total staff of Government Departments in the 12 months ending 1st October, 1927, notwithstanding an addition of 2,684 to the staff of the Post Office on account of the healthy growth of postal and telephone work.
Lieut.-Colonel Sir FREDERICK HALLIs it not a great deal better that there should be an increase in the staff of some of these offices than that there should be so much overtime worked in some of the Departments, thereby depriving a large number of men and women of a means of obtaining their living?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLIt is a somewhat different point of view from that contained in the question.
§ Mr. E. BROWNCan the right hon. Gentleman say whether 400 of this increase in the Revenue Department is due to the appointment of new Customs officers, 100 of whom are in the Royal Mint in London?
Sir F. HALLMay I press my right hon. Friend to be good enough to look into the question of overtime in some of these Departments?