HC Deb 26 June 1962 vol 661 cc928-9
6. Mr. Gresham Cooke

asked the Secretary to the Treasury how many Organisation and Methods staff are employed in the Treasury; how many are employed in other departments; and whether he is satisfied that that number is sufficient for all purposes of investigation and re-organisation required by Government Departments.

The Financial Secretary to the Treasury (Sir Edward Boyle)

Fifty-nine people above the grade of clerical officer are employed on Organisation and Methods work in the Treasury, and 456 in other Departments. I think that these are sufficient.

Mr. Gresham Cooke

Can my hon. Friend say whether 359 people are sufficient to look into the activities of nearly 500,000 civil servants, and would it not be advantageous to the Government in trying to achieve economy to bring in outside management consultants who have methods and organisation departments well-versed in these problems?

Sir E. Boyle

I am very ready to consider any suggestion which my hon. Friend has to make. It is fair to say that the work of the Treasury Division was reviewed in detail by the inter-Departmental committee appointed in November, 1960, and by the Plowden Committee in 1961. If my hon. Friend will turn to the published version of the Plowden Committee's Report, Cmnd. 1432, paragraph 53, he will see quite a favourable reference. Of course, I will bear in mind what he has said.

Mr. Snow

Without desiring in any way to be facetious, can the hon. Gentleman say who in his Department is responsible for the organisation and methods of the Organisation and Methods Department?

Sir E. Boyle

Perhaps the hon. Gentleman would like to put down a Question on that subject.