HC Deb 20 March 1947 vol 435 c559
1. Mr. J. Langford-Holt

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons are employed in the United Kingdom on national registration and registration of electors, respectively; and what manpower saving could be effected by the amalgamation of these two functions.

The Secretary of State for the Home Department (Mr. Ede)

It is not possible to give the figures asked for, because almost all the persons in question are also employed on other duties. I doubt if there would be any saving by combining the functions of the national registration officers and the functions of such local authority officers as are concerned with electoral registration; but in any case the recommendation of the Committee on Electoral Registration that there should be a change of system is now under consideration.

Sir Waldron Smithers

But are not these methods of employing people in Government offices subterfuges for full employment; and do they not increase the number of drones in the hive?

Mr. Ede

None of these people is employed in a Government office.

Sir W. Smithers

Well, civil servants.

Mr. Ede

Nor are they civil servants.