Mr. ALFRED T. DAVIESasked the First Commissioner of Works what reduction 1864W of staff has been made in his Department since 30th September last and at what reduction, if any, in the call on public funds; whether the administrative and other staffs of the Department are still greatly in excess in numbers and cost over those in the pre-war period; and whether he is in a position to state the numbers employed in the various sections of his Department in March, 1914, and at the present time?
§ Sir A. MONDIt has been necessary to increase the staff in my Department since the 30th September last to deal with increases in the work, and the answer to the second part of the question is in the affirmative. In answer to the third part of the question, the position (excluding workmen) is as follows:—
— March, 1914 Sept., 1919. March, 1920. Secretariat (including Contracts Branch and Registry). 89 184 194 Finance Division 120 261 248 Architects' Division 509 593 645 Engineering Division 109 120 126 Supplies Division 46 316 329 Parks Division 30 30 30 Total 903 1,504 1,572 In explanation of these increases, I may observe, that, in general, the volume of work now undertaken by my Department, is at least 150 per cent. greater than before the War, whilst it must be remembered that all work in connection with the provision and maintenance of buildings is far more difficult to administer than was the case in the pre-War period. It will thus be seen that the staff has not been increased in proportion to the increase in the work. Among the entirely new services recently added are the equipment of training institutions for disabled and ex-service men for the Ministries of Pensions and Labour, the provision of sanatoria for tuberculous ex-service men, and the provision of cottages on the farm settlements of the Board of Agriculture. The maintenance of all the buildings now in my charge must also now receive more attention, as all possible reductions in this direction were made during the War with the result that 1865W there is now danger of serious and rapid deterioration. As regards the Supplies Division, in particular, I should explain that one of its functions is the provision of accommodation for all Government office staffs m London which increased from 18,000 before the War to 100,000 at the date of the Armistice, the present staffs being still about 72,000. This work has entailed and still entails continual movements of staff with a view to the surrender at the earliest possible date of hotels, museums and commandeered business premises.