Major BARNESasked the First Lord of the Treasury what was the number of Departments under the financial control of the Treasury, the total number of permanent and temporary staffs to same; and the total amounts annually payable to same on the 31st March, 1914, and 31st March, 1919?
§ Mr. BALDWINAll Departments are subject to financial control by the Treasury in regard to their staffs, although general authorities have had to be granted in a number of cases for the engagement of additional assistance during the period of emergency, without specific reference to the Treasury. A general comparison of the expenditure on staffs may be obtained from the Estimates presented to Parliament, but the detailed figures asked for by the hon. Member are not available. Their compilation would necessitate the preparation of a special return, and in view of the pressure of work on the staffs of all Departments and the very limited value which any return would have, in the present changing situation, I hope the hon. and gallant Member will not press for it.