Mr. A. T. DAVIESasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer the numbers and cost during the three months ending 30th September of all men and women employed in Government offices who are extra and additional to the staffs engaged in August, 1914?
Mr. CHAMBERLAINThe number of men and women employed in Government Departments on 1st October last is approximately 90,000 in excess of the number employed in August, 1914. This comparison excludes industrial staff in dockyards and similar establishments and2114W Regimental Record Offices, etc. Numerous vacancies in the permanent staffs of Government Departments are filled for the time being by temporary employés, and it is impossible to separate the figures of expenditure so as to show the cost of the net additional staff over the 1914 figure. It is estimated, however, that if it were possible to abolish all new offices and to reduce the staffs of the old offices to the 1914 level, a reduction quite impracticable for many reasons, the saving in expenditure on staff at present rates of pay would be in the neighbourhood of £20,000,000 per annum.