§ 13. Mr. Nabarroasked the Minister of Food the total number of persons employed by his Department on each of the dates 31st December, 1949, and 31st December, 1950, and the aggregate cost per annum of wages and salaries for such persons on each date; and whether, in view of the urgent need for productive manpower, he will make a statement upon early staff reductions in his Department.
§ Mr. WebbThe numbers on these dates were 35,255 and 25,930, and the annual cost £12,500,000 and £9,500,000, respectively; in other words, there was a reduction of 9,300 staff in the year. I am satisfied that the number of staff employed by my Department is as low as possible consistent with the efficient performance of its present duties. In present circumstances further substantial reductions could only be secured by abandoning the Government's policy of distributing basic foods equitably at reasonable prices.
§ Mr. NabarroWhat is this labyrinth of bureaucratic bumbledom? Would not the nation's interest better be served in present stringent conditions for manpower by drastically reducing the number of officials in this unnecessary Department?
§ Mr. WebbI think I have shown to the House that every reasonable step has been taken to reduce the size of the staff; but if the suggestion is seriously made by hon. Members opposite that we should 1728 close the Ministry of Food perhaps they will suggest how then we could carry out the undertaking to pay guaranteed prices to the farmers.