§ 3. Mr. Goughasked the Minister of Supply the total number of persons employed by his Department; and what reduction in that number he hopes to make by the end of 1956.
§ Mr. MaudlingThe total number of civilians employed by my Department on 1st April, 1956, was 105,529, of whom 34,639 were non-industrials. A special review is now being undertaken to find ways and means by which the number of these latter can be reduced, but I am not yet able to estimate results likely to be achieved by the end of the year.
§ Mr. GoughMay I thank my right hon. Friend for that information and ask him to do everything possible to avoid what many people think is a duplication of work between his Ministry and the various Service Ministries?
§ Mr. MaudlingI am concerned at the amount of manpower, particularly scientific and technical, absorbed by my Department, and I hope to be able to reduce it.