HC Deb 02 December 1931 vol 260 cc1080-1
55. Brigadier-General SPEARS

asked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what is the military establishment at present employed at the War Office, what is the civilian establishment, and what were the corresponding figures for 1914, 1928 and 1st April, 1930; what was the cost of these establishments, respectively, for the same periods; and what are the comparative figures of these establishments for the grade of principals and the grades above principals for the same periods?

The FINANCIAL SECRETARY to the WAR OFFICE (Mr. Duff Cooper)

As the answer contains a number of figures, I will, with my hon. and gallant Friend's permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

— 1914. 1928. 1930. 1931.
Military Establishment—
Numbers … 261 345 354 354
Cost … £146,200 £298,400 £300,000 £297,300
Civilian Establishment—
Numbers … 1,617 1,976 1,947 1,934
Cost … £304,400 £620,500 £629,000 £584,000

The figures for civilians include War Office financial staff at out-stations at home and abroad. They also include retired officers, ex-soldier clerks and other civilians employed in military branches, and typists, messengers and cleaners who serve the office as a whole.

As regards the last part of the question, a direct comparison is not possible, owing to the fact that the Higher Division Staff of the War Office, in common

— Higher Division Clerks. Assistant Principals. Principals. Posts above Principal.
1914.
Numbers … … … … 16 16 11* 6
Cost … … … … £4,170 £12,205 £11,000 £8,600
* Includes for comparison one post of Comptroller of Lands, now filled by an Assistant Secretary.
Assistant Principals. Principals. Assistant Secretaries. Posts above Assistant Secretary.
1928.
Numbers … … … … 13 19 9 8
Cost … … … … £7,059 £20,234 £12,314 £15,199
1930
Numbers … … … … 12 19 10 7
Cost … … … … £7,100 £20,404 £13,824 £13,630
1931.
Numbers … … … … 12 19 10 7
Cost … … … … £6,880 £19,665 £13,416 £13,397