§ 93. Mr. Grimondasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why the numbers employed in the Colonial Office have risen by some 6 per cent. in the last eight years, while their responsibilities have decreased.
§ Mr. Lennox-BoydNearly 90 per cent. of the increase of staff since 1947 is due to214W the Office having taken over responsibility for the Directorates of Geodetic and Topographical Surveys and of Geological Surveys. There has been no diminution in the territorial responsibilities of my Department since 1948. On the other hand, the rapid social, economic and political development of the oversea territories and the closer contact now maintained with their Governments have increased the volume and complexity of the work to an extent far outweighing any reduction due to the fact that much of the routine business which used to be done here is now looked after by the oversea Governments themselves.