§ 46. Mr. William Shepherdasked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many British personnel were employed by the Control Commission, British element, on 1st May and on 1st September, respectively.
§ The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster (Mr. John Hynd)I assume the hon. Member refers to the Control Commission for Germany. The number of British personnel employed on 1st May was 22,265, and on 1st September 25,381.
§ Mr. ShepherdHow does the hon. Gentleman reconcile the figures he has just given with the statement he made in reply to a Question by me on Monday, when he said that reductions had already taken place?
§ Mr. HyndThe House will remember that when the Estimates were presented last May it was pointed out that the establishment had been cut down approximately 33 per cent., from a total figure of 42,000 to 28,500, and we are still below the new establishment figure.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownDo not these figures suggest that what we have got in Germany is a force which is far too large for control and far too small for administration, and will he say something on this matter?
§ Mr. HyndI could say quite a lot, but it would take me far beyond the time available in Questions. The simple fact is that there is a considerable amount of work still to be done in Germany, and, as I stated in the House on Monday in reply to a supplementary question, we are already taking steps to apply further reductions in the staff because we are fully aware of the importance of such reductions being made as soon as possible.