CENTRAL REGISTER. (Hansard, 12 June 1941)

§ 2. Sir Herbert Williams
asked the Minister of Labour the estimated total cost of the Central Register to the end of May and also the present number of the staff employed?

§ Mr. Bevin
The total cost of the staff of the Central Register from December, 1938, when the Register was started, to the end of May, 1941, is estimated at £84,000. The present number of staff employed is 159.

§ Sir H. Williams
As it takes each member of the staff more than a week to appoint one person, is it not time that this deplorable institution was wound up?

§ Mr. Bevin
If that time, taken in investigation, keeps down jobbery in a war, it is worth it.

§ Sir H. Williams
Will the right hon. Gentleman inform the House whether all the appointments have been made through the Central Register and whether it is not the case that, when the Minister wants to appoint someone, he asks the individual to go on to the Central Register? Is not the jobbery more in that direction?

§ Mr. Bevin
No, Sir. There is careful investigation before anyone is appointed, to see whether anyone exists on the Register. If no one exists on the Register, then we have to go outside.

Mr. Graham White
Has the right hon. Gentleman heard any suggestion of jobbery in connection with the Central Register?

§ Mr. Bevin
No, Sir. I said the very opposite.