§ 6. Major Guy Lloydasked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs the cost per head of the Control Commission in Germany for the running of its car services.
§ The Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (Mr. Ernest Bevin)During the second half of 1948 the cost of running car services for members of the Control Commission was just under £30 per head.
§ Major LloydIs the right hon. Gentleman satisfied—it is not possible to ascertain from his answer—that this is a satisfactory figure, of which we need not be ashamed in any way? There are very strong rumours from those who have been in Germany recently that a great many people, including Britishers, are thoroughly dissatisfied with the extravagant cost of these services, which contrasts very strongly with that for the Armed Forces.
§ Mr. BevinI am constantly keeping a watch on this. In fact, this evening I shall have a talk with General Robertson, who is over here. All these kinds of costs mount up, and one has to be on top of it the whole time.
§ Mr. DraysonDoes it amount to a cost of approximately £1 million per annum?
§ Mr. Nigel BirchIs it true that the staff of the Control Commission still exceeds 15,000?
§ Mr. BevinNo, it is just under. In just over a year and a half we have brought it down from—speaking from memory—approximately 26,000 to about 14,000.