§ 2. Mr. DALTONasked the Minister of Pensions whether the change in paying pensions is expected to result in a considerable reduction of staff at Acton issue office; whether arrangements will be made to offer those displaced alternative employment elsewhere; and whether any reduction in men of the clerical grades will be accompanied by a, corresponding reduction in the secretarial staff at Ministry headquarters?
§ Major TRYONThe answer to the first part of the question is in the negative. The second and third parts do not, therefore, arise.
§ Mr. DALTONDid not the right hon. Gentleman say that there was going to be a saving of £100,000 a year in this change; and does not part of that refer to reduction of staff?
§ Major TRYONThere will be, it is hoped, a saving of over £100,000, but that, as I pointed out, will be a saving mainly in post office work. The difference as regards the issue office will be that we shall not now find it necessary to undertake the work of issuing over 1,000,000 identity certificates.
§ Mr. DALTONDoes not that mean that there will be less work for the clerks to do?
§ Major TRYONNo; that work would have been additional.