§ Lieut.-Colonel POWNALLasked the Financial Secretary to the Treasury how many vacancies there are in the permanent Civil Service other than the Post Office?
Mr. GRAHAMA return such as is asked for would cover a very large num-1354W ber of grades. If the hon. and gallant Member is referring to the Clerical Civil Service in particular, it is very difficult in present circumstances to make a firm estimate of permanent requirements. With this reservation, I should estimate that the number of posts in clerical classes now filled by temporary clerks which might be filled by permanent clerks, outside the General Post Office, does not exceed three or four thousand. Detailed investigation is, however, being made on this point in connection with the resumed inquiry of the Southborough Committee.