§ 21. Colonel GRETTONasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies if he will state what was the total number of the staff of the Colonial Office in the year 1913 and the total amount of the salaries; and will he state the number of the staff in the year 1931 and the total amount of the salaries paid last year?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTEROn the 31st of December, 1913, the staff of the Colonial Office numbered 189 and the expenditure on salaries during the financial year 1913–14 amounted to £57,023. On the 31st of December, 1931, the staff numbered 393 and expenditure on salaries during 1931–32 amounted to £144,500. The latter figure includes the salaries of staff engaged on joint services for the Dominions Office and Colonial Office.
§ Colonel GRETTONCan my right hon. Friend say whether any of the staff engaged in the Colonial Office in 1913 were subsequently transferred to the Dominions Office and not replaced in the Colonial Office?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERI think my right hon. Friend has on the Paper a question about the Dominions Office. There is a small Dominions Office staff. The staff which performs joint services for both Departments, for example, library, legal advisers' typists, are included in this. I inquired into this matter myself, and I found that a few years ago a very careful inquiry had been conducted by a committee, including two of the highest Treasury officials, into the whole of the staffing and work of this Department. That seemed to me satisfactory, as I think close Treasury control is the most effective means of economy.
§ Major COLFOXIs it not true that in 1913 one office carried out the duties of the Colonial and Dominions Offices?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir.
§ Major COLFOXAre the figures given for 1913 figures which really cover both Offices at the present time?
§ Sir P. CUNLIFFE-LISTERYes, Sir.