HC Deb 15 November 1945 vol 415 c2327
65. Sir W. Smithers

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the number of civil servants before the war in 1939, the peak number during the war and the number at the latest available date.

Mr. Dalton

The number of whole-time non-industrial civil servants was 374,301 on 1st April, 1939, and 655,500 on 1st October, 1945. The peak number was 692,578 on 1st July, 1943.

Sir W. Smithers

Will the right hon. Gentleman say whether it would not be in the interests of the country to make a drastic cut of, say, 20 per cent. of the civil servants right away, and see what happens?

Mr. Dalton

No, Sir.

Mr. W. J. Brown May I

ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he could indicate by what number the present figure could be reduced, but for the activities of the hon. Member for Orpington (Sir W. Smithers)?