§ 3. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications why the numbers of staff within his Department have increased from 430 non-industrials and five industrials on 1st April, 1971, to an estimated 461 non-industrials and nine industrials by 31st March, 1972.
§ Mr. ChatawayThe greater part of the increase foreseen is to allow for the transfer to the Ministry's payroll of certain Post Office staff already working for the Ministry. The hon. Member will note that the 1971 figure is over 5 per cent. lower than that forecast by the previous Administration.
§ Mr. HamiltonHow do these figures square with the promise of the Tory Party at the last election that it would reduce the staff in Government Departments and in the Civil Service generally, bearing in mind that these figures show an increase of 8 per cent.? Can the right hon. Gentleman tell me what the two additional assistant secretaries are doing, since the result of the hiving-off of the Post Office Corporation has surely been to lessen considerably the burden of work inside the Department?
§ Mr. ChatawayThis is a new Ministry in the process of formation. I have explained that the increase was due to the transfer of a body of work from the Post Office to my Ministry, with the result that a certain number of people came on to our payroll. The fact remains that we have reduced by over 5 per cent. the figures agreed by the previous Administration.
§ 19. Mr. William Hamiltonasked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications why there has been an increase in the number of assistant secretaries in his Department from seven in 1970–71 to nine in 1971–72.
§ Mr. ChatawayOne of the additional posts is part-time, replacing a full-time principal. The other is to make better provision for the work arising from my functions as sponsoring Minister for the Post Office.
§ Mr. William HamiltonDo the right hon. Gentleman and the House recognise that the salaries of these officials are £5,000 a year, or thereabouts? They are not office boys. Moreover, two out of seven represents nearly 30 per cent. How does the right hon. Gentleman square that with his previous Answer that there is a reduction in the number which was contemplated by the previous Government? Or was a comparable increase contemplated in this field by the previous Government? Are the two, in fact, a reduction from what the previous Government proposed?
§ Mr. ChatawayOverall there is a reduction of over 5 per cent. In this particular case a part-time assistant secretary has been brought in to strengthen the work of the Post Office Users National Council, and the other appointment is in respect of oversight of telecommunications. It is absolutely clear that the work cannot be done without senior appointments of this kind.