Administrative Costs (Reduction) (Hansard, 5 March 1953)

§ 9. Mr. Renton
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he has taken during 1952, and what steps he will be taking in 1953, in order to reduce substantially the administrative costs of his Department.

§ Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe
During 1952 the net reduction of non-industrial staff employed by the Home Office was 148, or approximately four per cent. I have personally carried out a comprehensive review of the functions performed by my Department, but have found no scope for reductions in any of these functions, which in the main are determined by Parliament. However, I shall continue during 1953 to give the matter my close attention, and to maintain the strictest economy in the employment of staff and the administration of the Department.

§ Mr. Renton
Will the Home Secretary consider the possibility of further economies by ensuring that necessary tasks are not carried out in an uneconomical way?

§ Sir D. Maxwell Fyfe
I do my best to comply with that generality. I am more than ready to welcome information about any particular instances in respect of which steps can be taken.

§ 20. Mr. Renton
asked the Minister of Labour what steps he has taken during 1952, and what steps he will be taking in 1953, in order to reduce substantially the administrative costs of his Department.

§ The Minister of Labour (Sir Walter Monckton)
In 1952, eight appointments offices, five Government training centres, one industrial rehabilitation centre, 18 local offices and 92 local agencies were closed. A further 82 local offices were reduced to the status of sub-office. Total staff was reduced by 921. Review of administrative costs in my Department is a continuing process.

§ Mr. Renton
Will my right hon. and learned Friend undertake that he will not be deterred by these encouraging results from making still further economies in the next year?

Mr. Lee
Is the Minister aware that this maladroit attempt to cut down the essential services which his Department 542 gives to the public is particularly ill-timed, and will he ensure that, at the present time, when we are seeing unemployment increase, there will be an increase in the services of his Department commensurate with the task which they have to undertake?

§ Sir W. Monckton
What I hope to do in response to that suggestion is to see to it that our functions continue to be properly executed, and I will fight to retain those who are necessary for that purpose, but I will also do all I can to see that the work is done economically.

§ Mr. Porter
Will the Minister agree that, apart from the developments he has already enumerated, during the last few months there has been a considerable increase in the employment of clerks in the employment exchanges because of the increase in unemployment in the last 12 months?

§ Sir W. Monckton
Where possible, we have tried to meet, with the staff we have, such increase as there has been, and we shall continue to do so, but if we need more, we shall ask for more.

§ 37. Mr. Renton
asked the Minister of Health what steps he has taken during 1952, and what steps he will be taking in 1953, in order to reduce substantially the administrative costs of his Department.

§ The Minister of Health (Mr. Iain Macleod)
During 1952 the staff of my Department was reduced by 185, or nearly 7 per cent. The work and staffing is under continuous review and I seek every opportunity to make economies in administration.

§ Mr. Renton
Would my right hon. Friend not agree that decentralisation and simplification of the administration of the National Health Service would make further economies possible?

§ Mr. Macleod
I think that that is a bit of a generalisation. I am very ready at all times to look into a specific instance in which any degree of decentralisation would reduce staff.