§ 18. Colonel GRETTONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office what was the total number of the civilian staff at the War Office in 1913 and the total of their salaries; and what was the number of the civilian staff in 1931 and the total of their salaries?
§ Mr. COOPERThe total number of the civilian staff of the War Office in 1913 was 1,579 and the cost was £296,800. In 1931 the corresponding figures were 1,934 and £584,000. These figures 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.
§ Colonel GRETTONDo those figures include the political appointments, such as that of the Secretary of State for War?
§ Mr. COOPERI do not quite follow the right hon. and gallant Member. There is always a Secretary of State for War, and the numbers in that respect are not altered.
§ Colonel GRETTONI want to know whether the salaries are included in the total?
§ Mr. COOPERYes, Sir.
§ 19. Sir WALTER PRESTONasked the Financial Secretary to the War Office 981 what would be the annual saving if the civilian staff of the War Office was reduced to what it was in August, 1914?
§ Mr. COOPERThe gradings and rates of pay of civilian staff are not the same as they were in 1914; but on a rough arithmetical calculation, the cost of the 1914 numbers would amount to some £90,000 less than the cost of the present numbers.
§ Sir W. PRESTONAs there has been a cut of 25 per cent. in the Army since 1913, is there any reason why there should not be a cut in the clerical staff of the War Office?
§ Mr. COOPERThere are many reasons. I attempted to give them in the Debate on the War Office Estimates a few months ago.