§ Mr. ROSEasked the Pensions Minister if he can make a statement detailing the number of part- and full-time officials and employés of his Department, the amount expended for salaries, fees, expenses, office rents, and upkeep for the entire establishment, including branch and provincial offices, as well as for headquarters staffs; and whether any measures are being taken, or are in contemplation, for drastically reducing the staffs and expense of the Department?
§ Sir J. CRAIGExcluding the local war pensions committees, the total number of the staff of the Ministry on 1st March, 1919, was 12,344, made up of 10,548 full-time officials and employés and 1,796 part-time. The amount expended during the eleven months from 1st April, 1918, to 28th February, 1919, on salaries, fees, etc., but not including accommodation, which is borne on the Votes of the Office of Works, was £936,500. The present expenditure is approximately at the rate of £1,250,000 per annum.
The number of paid staff employed by the local committees cannot be stated, nor can their actual expenditure during the period above mentioned, but their estimated expenditure for the financial 1305W year 1918–19, in so far as it is borne by the State, and including both staff and accommodation, is approximately £312,500.
With regard to the last part of this question, no measures are being taken to reduce the staff. On the contrary, the staff is being increased to meet the heavy burden thrown upon the Department by demobilisation.