§ 18. Mr. Butcherasked the President of the Board of Trade the number of staff employed in his Department at the last convenient date and the corresponding figure six months previously.
§ Sir S. CrippsThe number of staff employed both at the centre and in the regions on 1st October, 1945, was 7,362 as compared with 6,423 on 1st April, 1945, It is hoped that a further increase in staff may be attained before the end of the year so as to enable the work of the Board to be carried out expeditiously and efficiently without subjecting the staff to the excessively long hours that they have worked during and since the war.
§ Mr. ButcherIn view of the fact that these increases in staff have in no way improved the efficiency of the right hon. and learned Gentleman's Department, would he consider setting up a working party to see what improvements can be made?
§ Sir S. CrippsI have had a party working on that, and from the many letters of thanks which have been received by the Department I am quite sure that they are giving satisfaction.