HC Deb 07 December 1949 vol 470 cc1845-6
1. Sir Waldron Smithers

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation the number of civil servants employed in his Department at the latest available date.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Civil Aviation (Mr. Lindgren)

At 1st November, 1949, the numbers were 7,640 full-time and 373 part-time.

Sir W. Smitbers

Will the hon. Gentleman say why so many bureaucrats are necessary, and what the proportion of office boys is to each man who is doing the real work, namely, the pilot in the aircraft?

Mr. Lindgren

I rather resent the tone of the hon. Gentleman's supplementary, but the number of civil servants at headquarters is 1,600. The remainder are composed of men doing very responsible tasks in the maintenance of aerodromes, air traffic control, radio facilities, and all the rest to enable air transport to be carried on in this country.

Colonel Dower

Is there an increase or decrease in numbers over the last comparable period?

Mr. Lindgren

As compared with the previous year there has been a slight decrease—about 40 or 50.