HC Deb 06 December 1951 vol 494 c2536
10. Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the number of persons employed in his Department has been increased since 1st November last.

Mr. P. Thorneycroft

Twenty-six, Sir.

Lieut.-Colonel Lipton

Can the right hon. Gentleman say why, at a time when all kinds of cuts have been imposed, the staff in his Department has been increasing?

Mr. Thorneycroft

Some of the cuts imposed were import cuts requiring a certain amount of staff to deal with them. I am considering this matter. It is, on the whole, rather a modest figure, and I hope that before long it will be reduced to a figure at least no higher than that at which I started.