§ 111. Sir W. Darlingasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what steps he proposes to take to reduce the staff of his works department, which increased from 3,518 in 1951–52 to 4,020 in 1952–53.
Mr. WardThe figures quoted by my hon. Friend are the forecasts in Air Estimates of the non-industrial works staff likely to be employed outside the Air Ministry, both at home and abroad, on 1st April, 1951, and 1st April, 1952. The actual strengths on these dates were 3,450 and 3,878 respectively.
The rate of expenditure on the tasks for which these men are employed has risen about 50 per cent. since April, 1951, and no reduction in works staff can be expected until the task can be reduced.
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§ 112. Sir W. Darlingasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to check a further increase in his miscellaneous non-industrial staff, which increased from 18,206 in 1951–52 to at least 19,364 in 1952–53.
Mr. WardFewer miscellaneous non-industrial staff are working for the Air Ministry today than in April, 1951.
The figures quoted by my hon. Friend are forecasts prepared for estimate purposes. They are, moreover, not directly comparable, since the first excludes, and the second includes, staff engaged on behalf of the United States Air Force and the Royal Canadian Air Force. Such staff apart, the numbers actually employed were 17,698 on 1st April, 1951, 17,715 on 1st April, 1952, and 17,390 on 1st November, 1952.
§ 114. Mr. Raikesasked the Under-Secretary of State for Air what steps he is taking to check the increase in the staff of his Department which increased from 2,283 in 1951–52 to 2,413 in 1952–53.
Mr. WardThe figures quoted by my hon. Friend are forecasts prepared for Estimates purposes. The numbers actually employed were 2,269 on 1st April, 1951, and 2,324 on 1st April, 1952.
Searching economies during the past year had enabled us to reduce the staff in this category to 2,277 by 1st November, 1952.