§ Sir HENRY CRAIKasked the President of the Board of Education what has been the annual increase in the administrative cost of his Department during each of the financial years 1906–7, 1907–8, 1908–9, and 1909–10; and what number of" persons has been added to the staff in each of these years?
§ Mr. RUNCIMANI am not sure what the hon. Member would desire should be included in the term "administrative cost," but taking as a basis the expenditure comprised in sub-heads A, B, H1 and 3, I 1 to 7, and 12, K1, L1 and 2 and 6, M, N2, and deducting appropriations in aid, the expenditure is as follows:—
— Total. Increase+ Decrease- on previous year. 1906–7 … … £498,973 -£2,303 1907–8 … … £507,805 +£8,832 1908–9 … … £516,571 +£8,766 The year 1909–10 is not yet completed, and no figures of net expenditure can be given. The greater portion of the increase in cost is, of course, due to automatic increments to salaries.
In 1906–7 there was a decrease in the permanent staff of the Board of three.
In 1907–8 there was an increase of 80.
In 1908–9 there was an increase of 11.
1563WThe increase of 80 in 1907–8 is accounted for mainly by the addition of 72 to the clerical staff. It is not possible to give the number of persons in temporary employment, which is constantly fluctuating. The figures, both as to cost and numbers, comprise all departments of the Board, and therefore include the Victoria and Albert Museum, the Science Museum, the Bethnal Green Museum, the Geological Museum, the Geological Survey, the Royal College of Art, and the Solar Physics Committee.