§ Mr. WATERSONasked the Secretary of State for War if he can state how many are employed in his Department at the Whitehall Headquarters, giving the number of males and females; and can he state the approximate weekly cost of the same?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLThe civilian staff employed at War Office Headquarters (including outlying branches) on 1st July consisted of 3,964 males and 1,671 females, and the weekly cost is approximately £30,000. These figures include the staff transferred from the Ministry of Munitions. The military staff numbers 756, and the weekly cost is approximately £10,000. The female staff includes a large number of shorthand writers, typists, and charwomen. I might add that the correspondence from the public received in the War Office—an inflow which the Department cannot control—is still six times the amount received before the War, while the staff is only four times the pre-War strength.
§ Mr. SITCHasked the Secretary of State for War whether, in view of the fact that the stores, etc., were some weeks ago removed from the Pavilion Rooms, Brighton, and deposited in the Corn Exchange, he can state whether it is necessary to continue to employ 32 men and a highly-paid doctor, who is termed commanding officer; what salary does this doctor receive; whether he is aware that the old hoarding round the grounds is a great disfigurement in the centre of Brighton; and whether action will be taken at once with a view to its removal?
§ Mr. CHURCHILLI have called for a further report on this matter, and will write to the hon. Member as soon as it has been received.