§ Mr. RAWLINSONasked the Minister of Labour how many of those civil servants to be dismissed from his Department on account of necessary economy are men who have fought in the War, and how many are men who have not served in the forces; and how many posts with salary or bonus of over £300 a year are now held by civil servants who did not serve in the forces, promoted to the first division during or since the War?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThe question of the staff of the Ministry of Labour has been, and is, receiving my unceasing personal attention. As regards permanent staff, the consideration of future possible reductions must, in the main, I think, await the reports of the Committee on Trade Boards, and the interdepartmental Committee on the relation of health and unemployment insurance. The temporary and casual staff of the Ministry is mainly employed in the employment exchange service, and its numbers necessarily fluctuate with the rate of unemployment. Of the total temporary male staff 98'9 per cent, are ex-service men, and reductions, therefore, involve of necessity the dismissal of ex-service personnel. Eighteen permanent officers who did not serve in His Majesty's forces have been promoted or transferred to administrative posts during or since the War. The total number of such posts is 57.
Mr. BARNESasked the Minister of Labour how many secretaries and assistant secretaries there are in his Department; and what are their total emoluments including bonus?
§ Dr. MACNAMARAThere is one secretary, a second secretary, and 12 assistant secretaries (three holding acting appointments only), all in charge of separate divisions or branches of the Ministry's work and responsible for the administrative action involved in duties upon which a staff of over 25,000 is engaged. The second secretary is shortly leaving on transfer, and the post vacated 417W will not be filled. In addition, two assistant secretaries are seconded for special duty elsewhere (one with the International Labour Office at Geneva, and one with the Committee on Grants for the Relief of Unemployment. The salary of the first of these is not paid by the Department, but by the International Labour Office). The emoluments of the remaining 15 officers (including bonus) are at present £22,683.