HC Deb 26 February 1919 vol 112 cc1788-91W
Mr. RAMSDEN

0 asked the Under-Secretary of State to the Air Ministry what reduction has been made in the staff of the Air Ministry since the Armistice?

Major-General SEELY

The following reductions in the staff of the Air Ministry have been made since the Armistice:

Officers 58
Temporary Clerical and Technical Staff (including Airmen) 227
Messengers 28
Total 313

As against this, there has been an increase of twenty-four in the number of permanent Civil servants employed.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Shipping Controller what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Colonel L. WILSON

The reduction in the staff of the Ministry of Shipping, including out ports, since the Armistice totals 433, representing an annual charge of £136,345.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Food Controller what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Mr. McCURDY

The numbers and cost of the staff of the Ministry of Food at the date of the Armistice and on the 26th February, 1919, are, approximately, as follows:

11th Nov., 1918. 26th Feb., 1919.
No. Cost. No. Cost.
£ £
Headquarter Staff 4,700 670,000 3,700 580,000
Provincial Staff 4,100 560,000 3,100 440,000
Totals 8,800 1,230,000 6,800 1,020,000

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Munitions what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Mr. KELLAWAY

The reduction affected in the headquarters staff of the Ministry of Munitions since the signing of the Armistice has been 7,407 persons. Of these, 2,541 were transferred to the Resettlement and Demobilisation Department of the Ministry of Labour, and 4,866 have been discharged.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Secretary of State for War what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Captain GUEST

On the 11th November, 1918, the total staff (military and civilian) was 21,807, and since that date reductions to the extent of 3,097 have been effected, largely in the censorship, casualties and military railways staffs and the staff of the Surveyor-General of Supply. Against these reductions must be set, however, increases of staff to the extent of 1,425, chiefly in respect of increases of work due either directly or indirectly to demobilisation, so that the net reduction of staff is 1,672. The question is being carefully watched, and further reductions will continue to be made wherever possible.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Minister of National Service if he can state what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Sir AUCKLAND GEDDES

The table following gives the reduction in the staff at headquarters and in the regions since the signing of the Armistice.

Date Administrative Clerical, etc., including Porters, Messengers, and Cleaners. Total.
Headquarters Staff.
14 Nov., 1918 272 951 1,223
20 Feb., 1919 109 404 513
Reduction 163 547 710
Regional and Area Staff.
14Nov., 1918 1,630 12,271 13,901
13 Feb., 1919 354 1,187 1,541
Reduction 1,276 11,084 12,360

By the 1st of April next practically the whole of the Regions and Areas staff will have been dismissed or transferred to the Ministry of Pensions and the Ministry of Labour, in connection with the Pensions Boards and Retail Shops Licences. The headquarters staff will likewise be reduced for the same reasons, further reductions being made from time to time as the affairs of the Ministry are completed.

Mr. RAMSDEN

asked the Minister of Blockade what reduction has been made in the staff of his Department since the Armistice?

Mr. C. HARMSWORTH

Since the signing of the Armistice the following reductions of staff have been made in the various Departments of the late Ministry of Blockade, apart from the posts of

Minister of Blockade and two Private Secretaries,

Parliamentary Under-Secretary for Blockade,

which have been abolished.

Contraband Department of Foreign Office, reduced by 8
Foreign Trade Department, reduced by 69
War Trade Statistical Department, reduced by 4
War Trade Intelligence Department (Blockade Section), reduced by 20
War Trade Department, reduced by 208
Total 309