§ Mr. Henderson Stewartasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the representations made by the Civil Service Clerical Association to the effect that men and women in the Civil Service have insufficient work to do, but that recruitment continues; and why the offer of co-operation by the union to effect a more economical use of the staff in the national interest has been neglected?
§ Sir K. WoodNo offer of co-operation by the Civil Service Clerical Association or any other staff association has been neglected. On the contrary, the Treasury and Departments would welcome any suggestions made by staff associations in this matter, and would give them immediate consideration. I am not aware of what cases are referred to in the first part of the Question. I append a general statement as to the steps which have been taken to conserve man- and woman-power in the Civil Service.
Following is the statement.
I should like to take this opportunity to make a general statement about the steps which have been taken to conserve man- and woman-power in the Civil Service, in an effort to meet the growing demands on the Government machine and at the same time to limit recruitment and release men and women to the other Services. Departments have been instructed to review administrative processes and practices so as to reduce as far as possible the demands on staff time; the hours of duty of all civil servants have been largely extended and leave drastically reduced. In these steps the Government have enlisted the co-operation of the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council, on which the C.S.C.A. are represented, and last year comprehensive arrangements were made, in agreement with them, to carry out detailed reviews in every Department, with the assistance in each case of local representatives of the Staff and a liaison officer from the Treasury.
A special section of the Treasury has been functioning since the outbreak of war, staffed by officers with special experience, whose duty it is to assist 1339W Departments by examining their organisation and procedures on the spot, and to recommend improvements. The activities of these officers are supervised by an independent panel of business men. No such general representations as are referred to in the first part of the Question have been made to me, but the C.S.C.A. and other staff associations have brought to notice a number of specific cases through-the normal Whitley machinery: any such representations have been and will be thoroughly investigated, with a view to remedial action where justified.