59. Mr. De la Bèreasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury the approximate total number of permanent and temporary civil servants employed throughout the country on 1st November, 1945.
§ Mr. Glenvil HallThe latest date for which figures are available is 1st October, 1945, when there were 205,238 established, 450,262 whole-time unestablished and 91,868 part-time unestablished non-industrial civil servants employed in all Departments.
Mr. De la BèreCan the hon. Gentleman give us some assurance that those numbers of the unestablished civil servants will be reduced, in view of the fact that there are more people looking after them than are actually working?
§ Mr. HallI think I can give that assurance. Statements have been made from this Box by responsible Ministers more than once during these last months, to the effect that the temporaries who can be dispensed with will be dispensed with as soon as possible.
§ Mr. Vernon BartlettWill the hon. Gentleman see that these temporary civil servants who are not dismissed are put on the established list as soon as possible?
§ Mr. HallThat is a large question which cannot be dealt with by means of question and answer across the House at Question time. White Papers have been produced on this subject and, as the hon. Gentleman knows only too well, the Government are anxious to establish all the civil servants they can as soon as possible.