53. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in connection with the substantial increases in the personnel of all existing Government Departments, and the additional increase entailed by the creation of the Ministry of Supply, he will consider circularising the heads of all Departments concerned urging on them the necessity for some limitation of the number of civil servants, both temporary and permanent, employed in their Departments.
§ Sir J. SimonThe considerations mentioned in my hon. Friend's question are 214 fully borne in mind, and such a circular is, I think, unnecessary.
Mr. De la BèreDoes my right hon. Friend realise that some Departments have too many and some have too few; and will he have a comprehensive survey made of the Whitehall Departments with a view to adjusting the conditions more equitably?
§ Sir J. SimonThe numbers of personnel in all Departments are modified from time to time. I quite agree that the subject is an important one at all times.