§ 64. Mrs. Tateasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether he is aware that civil servants employed at the Admiralty offices, Bath, still complain that they have to knit, read or sit and do nothing because the offices are so overstaffed and the work so ill-organised; and what steps he is taking to remedy this.
Mr. AlexanderNo, Sir, but if the hon. Lady will give me particulars of any cases of under employment which have come to her notice I shall be glad to investigate them.
§ Mrs. TateIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I have a great many cases which I could give him, but in every case I have given up to date there has been considerable victimisation of the writers of the letters, and that makes it exceedingly difficult to give cases?
Mr. AlexanderI must say that it is impossible, at Question Time, to answer general charges of that character. There are very large numbers of civil servants in this particular place who have done fine and loyal work, many of whom resent the reflections made by way of a general charge, without particular cases being brought.
§ Mrs. TateIs the right hon. Gentleman aware that I am as well aware as anyone that large numbers of these civil servants are working long hours and exceedingly hard, but that there is a grave maldistribution of work and very obsolete equipment in the filing department?
Mr. AlexanderI do not know what specially moves my hon. Friend, but my experience is that where a large number of people are directed to certain work, you will always find a few people who will desire to make specific complaints in order that they may if possible be removed from the Department.