Mr. T. THOMSONasked the Minister of Pensions whether he is now prepared to adopt the recommendations of the Departmental Committee of Inquiry, contained in their Report of 21st June, 1921, relative to the establishment of pension officers; and will he also take steps to secure for the present temporary officials permanent, not pensionable, posts consistent with their present status?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThe position of the temporary officials in the Ministry of Pensions, and in Government Departments generally, in the matter of obtaining established appointments or being given permanent non-pensionable posts is covered by the settlement recently negotiated. My right hon. Friend is now considering proposals for submission to the Treasury for placing on a permanent non-pensionable basis such number of the temporary officials employed in the Ministry of Pensions as may appear to be justified.
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§ Mr. CLUSEasked the Minister of Pensions whether, seeing that in the year 1923–24 the War Office made provision for a payment of £3,800 to the Ministry of Pensions for the compilation of statistics and that no provision is made for any payment during the ensuing year, it is proposed to reduce the staff in the statistical branch, and what are the duties of the director of statistics; and whether, having regard to the diminution of the volume of work in the Ministry, it is proposed to make the statistical branch a subordinate section of the administration branch?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThe special work for which the provision referred to in the first part of the question was made has practically ceased, and since the 1st January, 1924, the staff of the statistical section has been reduced by 53 officers, and additional numbers are already under notice. The hon. Member may rest assured that the staff will be adjusted to the work as circumstances may from time to time indicate. Administrative control of the highly specialised and complex organisation of the Ministry would be impossible without regular statistical information as to the working of the various sections of it, and the director of statistics, as his title implies, has the responsibility of the collection and production of this information. The section is already subordinate to the general administration section of the Ministry.
§ Mr. LOWTHasked the Minister of Pensions what is the total staff in the Pensions Issue Office; and how many of these are graded above the rank of Grade I clerk?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThe total staff at Pension Issue Office on the 1st March, 1925, was 2,940, of whom 107 ranked above Grade I temporary clerk.
§ Sir H. BRITTAINasked the Minister of Pensions what is the number of the staff employed by his Department in the issue office at Acton compared with the number previously employed this time last year?
Lieut.-Colonel STANLEYThe staff of Pension Issue Office, Acton, numbered648W 2,940 on the 1st March, 1925, as compared with 3,373 on the corresponding date last year.