§ 46. Mr. Cooperasked the Prime Minister if, in view of the need to economise on Government expenditure, eliminate the wasteful employment of manpower and improve the efficency of Departments especially necessary to carry out the Government's policy, he will again review the size and organisation of the Civil Service with a view to reintroducing the proposed 10 per cent. cut in manpower and possibly increasing this to 20 per cent., and if he will take steps for the appointment of a Select Committee to investigate the position as a matter of urgency.
§ The Prime MinisterThe size and organisation of the Civil Service are being kept under constant review. I see no purpose in the appointment of a further Select Committee, since these matters come generally within the sphere of the Estimates Committee, which has recently 516 issued a valuable report on organisation and methods and its effect on the staffing of Government Departments.
§ Mr. CooperWhilst regretting the Prime Minister's reply, and in view of the need for a searching investigation into the size and organisation of the Civil Service, to prevent undermining the efficient execution of the Government's policy, may I ask if he would consider appointing one man to look into and report on this matter, rather in the way that Lord Beveridge was appointed to investigate and report upon social security?
§ The Prime MinisterThat would he an entirely different kind of inquiry. I do not think that that would be useful in this instance.
§ Mr. W. J. BrownIf we are to cut down the size of the public service, should we not make a beginning with the public relations officers, who seem to me to be an unnecessary and unmanageable imposition on the body politic?
§ The Prime MinisterMy information is that their services are found to be extremely valuable.
§ Mr. Granville SharpWhat action is being taken to implement the recommendations of the Select Committee on Estimates on organisation and methods, to which the right hon. Gentleman referred in his reply?
§ The Prime MinisterTheir recommendations are being studied.
§ Mr. Eric FletcherDoes my right hon. Friend think he will get the necessary response for carrying out the Government's policy unless the Government themselves set a serious example by cutting down Government expenditure?
§ The Prime MinisterThe answer is that when the House passes legislation, it has to be carried out, and that inevitably means that we must have staff to carry it out. If hon. Members, instead of making generalised statements about increases, would look into details, they would get a clearer view.
§ Mr. H. MacmillanThe right hon. Gentleman has told us that these suggestions of the Estimates Committee were under constant review. Could they, perhaps, also be given consideration, or even earnest consideration?
§ The Prime MinisterI should have thought that the right hon. Gentleman had been long enough in this House to understand the ordinary meaning of a phrase like that.
§ Mr. MacmillanClichés do not become less clichés because they are continually used on the Government Front Bench.
§ The Prime MinisterWhy did the right hon. Gentleman make two?
§ Mr. CooperIn view of the tremendous importance of this matter, and to focus the attention of the Government upon it, I beg to give notice that I propose to raise this matter on the Adjournment at the earliest possible moment.
§ Major Tufton BeamishCome over to this side.