§ Mr. WINDSORasked the Minister of Pensions whether he has under consideration the amalgamation of any of the area offices in the London district; if so,
2428Wsubmitted for consideration for final award and the percentage of these cases in which a final award was made in each region of the. Ministry during the three months ended 31st March, 1925: and in how many cases were life pensions awarded and how many awards made of a final weekly allowance?
§ Major TRYONThe number of cases submitted for consideration for final award and the percentage of such cases in which a final award was recommended (distinguishing cases of 20 per cent, and over and those of less than 20 per cent, assessment) for each region during the three months ended 31st March, 1925, is as follows:
what amalgamations are under consideration; and whether the area war pensions committees will be consulted before any change is made in the status of the local offices, hours, and days of opening, etc.?
§ Major TRYONI have now under consideration the following amalgamations of area staffs in the County of London:
- (1) Bermondsey and Southwark with Camberwell;
- (2) Hackney and Stoke Newington with Islington.
In both cases, in accordance with the usual practice, the war pensions committees have been consulted in regard to the change contemplated.
§ Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions when the Director of Establishments was appointed; what was the salary payable and the amount of War bonus; what is the present salary and War bonus; and whether, seeing that the number of staff has decreased from 29,937 in 1921 to 16,401 in December, 1924, there has been any diminution in the responsibilities and duties of the Director of Establishments?
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§ Major TRYONThe duties of Director of Establishments form part of the duties of one of the Principal Assistant Secretaries of the Ministry, who was appointed to the post in October, 1921, the scale of salary being £l,200, rising by increments to £l,500, with bonus on the minimum salary of £380. There has been no change in the scale of salary. The bonus paid, however, has fallen to £212. The decrease which is taking place in the staff of the Ministry does not involve any diminution in the responsibilities or duties of the post, which require close and constant attention to adjust the organisation to the decreasing volume of work without any loss of efficiency, and with the maximum economy. Under present conditions, indeed, this task becomes increasingly difficult.
§ Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions why in the three years ending December, 1924, there was an increase in the number of permanent officers of the rank of principal clerk and above from 35 to 74, only 14 of whom saw war service, seeing that the number of beneficiaries decreased from 3,004,000 to 2,080,000, and other staff of all grades were reduced from 29,937 to 16,401?
§ Major TRYONA great part of the apparent increase to which the hon. Member refers involved no addition to the personnel, 29 of the new posts being due to the scheme of regrading of the Civil Service drawn up in 1921, but not applied till 1922. There has been a considerable decrease in the number of temporary poets of similar standing.