§ Mr. BRIANTasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if his attention has been called to the statement contained in the Fourth Report of the Committee appointed to inquire into the organisation and staffing of Government offices that a staff of thirteen clerks was engaged in dealing with about forty communications a day; if he has inquired as to who was responsible for this condition of administration; and whether he will take immediate steps to recover the complete control by the Treasury of all the staffs of Government Departments?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINMy attention has been drawn to the recent Reports of the Committee on Staffs, and I am communicating with the Departments which were dealt with in these Reports. I am informed by the Admiralty that the staff referred to in the first part of the question has now been reduced to two, and that the Board of Inventions and Research in which they were employed has been amalgamated with the Department of the Scientific Adviser to the Admiralty. The hon. Member may be assured that I shall do all I can to restore effective Treasury control, and I trust that the House will second my efforts not only by criticising the real or supposed laches of the Treasury, but also by refraining from pressing increased expenditure on other Departments and supporting them in their efforts to make economies.