§ 37. Mr. G. Brownasked the Minister of Supply how many aircraft and engine projects were cancelled by his Department as a result of the cuts announced in Command Paper No. 124; how many scientific and technical officers were previously employed in his Department on work connected with these projects; and how many of those officers have been transferred to other work within his Department, transferred to other Departments, and released to industry, respectively.
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§ Mr. ErrollI have been asked to reply. Three aircraft projects and one engine project have been cancelled as a result of the cuts announced in Command Paper No. 124, and in addition work on other engine development related specifically to these aircraft has been stopped. Most of the scientific and technical officers in the Ministry of Supply who were working on these projects were also engaged on other work. However, since Command Paper No. 124 was issued, there has been a reduction of 84 in the numbers of scientists and technicians employed on air research at headquarters and in the Air Research Establishments of the Ministry of Supply. Of these, 43 have been released to industry, 8 have been transferred to other Government Departments and the remainder covers resignations, retirements and deaths.
§ 38. Sir A. V. Harveyasked the Minister of Supply what reductions of staff have taken place in his Department since the Defence White Paper was published; and what is the total number employed at the latest convenient date compared with this time last year.
§ Mr. ErrollI have been asked to reply. In the period of six months since the Defence White Paper was published, the number of civilians employed by the Ministry of Supply has been reduced by 7,237. The number at 1st October, 1957, was 89,595, which was 12,292 less than the comparable figure a year earlier.