§ 2. Brigadier Raynerasked the Minister of Supply how many civil servants in his Department are rendered redundant by the decision to allow the British Air Corporations to order aircraft direct from manufacturers instead of through his Department.
§ The Minister of Supply (Mr. G. R. Strauss)Few civil servants are likely to become redundant by the change in procedure. My Department will still be responsible for ordering prototypes and for development generally; and there will be work in connection with aircraft already on order for the Corporations.
§ Brigadier RaynerMay we take it that the Minister will miss no opportunity to reduce the somewhat swollen and expensive staff of his Department?
§ Mr. StraussI do not accept that the staff of my Department is swollen, but we are always careful to see there is no redundancy.