§ Mr. Sharpasked the Minister of Food how many local food offices now operate under the control of his Department; the approximate total of the staff employed; to what extent is the work of such offices being reduced or increased and for what reasons; what checks are made to ensure that excessive staffs arc not held after the initial need for them has disappeared; and what reductions are contemplated during the next few months.
§ Mr. StracheyThere are 1,213 local food offices and 473 sub-offices. The number of staff employed in these offices on 1st March, 1947, was 29,710, counting part-time workers as a half. These offices do work for the Registrars General, and for other Government Departments, such as the issue of clothing ration documents for the Board of Trade, in addition to their food control duties. The volume238W of work naturally varies with the changing supply and distribution problems. I can hold out little hope of a major reduction while the general food situation remains difficult. Also, in the next few months there is bound to be a temporary increase while the new ration books are being prepared and issued.
On the other hand, divisional food offices and headquarters alike are continually on the watch against inefficiency and over-staffing, and I have recently appointed a special committee to examine possible economies in manpower—for instance, reductions in the actual volume of work undertaken, the better deployment of staff, the mechanization of certain processes and any other means of releasing staff while maintaining the Ministry's service to the public. It is impossible to give any estimate of the saving which may be effected in these ways.