§ 35. Colonel GRETTONasked the First Commissioner of Works the total number of the staff employed in the Office of Works in 1913 and the total of their salaries; and what was the number of the staff in 1931 and the total of their salaries in the latter year?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREThe number of non-industrial employés recorded as being on the staff of the Office of Works on the 1st May, 1913, was 655, and the total of their salaries £145,834. The number of non-industrial employés on the 1st October, 1931, was 3,138, and the total of their salaries and wages £876,648. The numbers are, however, in no way comparable, as the 1913 records do not contain particulars of the employés in many grades which were then classed as industrial, but are now classed as non-industrial. The number employed in October, 1931, has already been reduced by 117 and reductions are still proceeding.
§ Colonel GRETTONCan the right hon. Gentleman say how many industrial people are employed?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI should like to have notice of that question. They are scattered all over the country.
§ Mr. LAMBERTCan the right hon. Gentleman give us the comparative figures for 1913 and 1931?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREI have been trying to get out the comparative figures this morning. When the reorganisation took place under Lord Melchett, large classes of employés who had been in one category appeared in another, and it means going through individual names. If the right hon. Gentleman will give me 1581 time, I will try to get the comparative figures, but it is extremely difficult.
§ Mr. CHURCHILLDoes the right hon. Gentleman mean that in a week or 10 days' time he will be able to work out the comparative figures?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREYes, that is what I mean.
Mr. GURNEY BRAITHWAITETo what extent is this increase in staff due to the building of new employment exchanges lake the one in Sheffield?
§ Mr. ORMSBY-GOREIt is partly due to a lot of new work like the building of new employment exchanges and to the preservation of ancient monuments.