§ Mr. BUCHANANasked the Minister of Health whether he is prepared to employ additional staff on the extra work now being undertaken in his Department in connection with the new pensions scheme rather than employ the permanent staff on continuous overtime; and whether he has considered this question from the standpoint of economy?
§ Sir K. WOODMy right hon. Friend has already engaged a very large number of temporary ex-service clerks, and he is satisfied that the necessity for employing the existing trained and experienced permanent staff on overtime could not be obviated by the employment of further additional temporary staff. While considerations of economy are always present with my right hon. Friend, the overriding factor in the staffing arrangements must be the interests of the work itself.