§ 27. Mr. DAVID WILLIAMSasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office the number of new appointments in the War Office since 31st March, 1914; how many of them are still occupied; the number of persons drawing pensions or retired pay Who are employed at the War Office, with the total amount of their salaries and the amount of pension and retired pay; and whether he will consider the appointment of a committee to make recommendations as to what economies should be effected at the War Office, in the inspectorate, and the colleges for the training of gentlemen cadets?
§ Mr. COOPERThe total staff of all grades in. the War Office military and civil approved for the current year is 2,291, as compared with 1,878 in 1914. I regret that I cannot say how many are drawing pension or retired pay or the amount so drawn. The information is not readily available and cannot be obtained without elaborate inquiries and considerable labour. As regards the last part of the question, the possibility of effecting further economies is a matter which receives constant attention and it is not considered that the appointment of another committee to examine this question at the present time would serve any useful purpose. I might point out that since the War the staff of the War Office has been examined by eight different committees of inquiry, apart from periodical examinations by the Committee of Public Accounts and the Select Committee on Estimates.