§ 39. Lieut.-Colonel Bromley-Davenportasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the difficulty of achieving reductions in the number of civil servants by reason of the inability of Government Departments to take a sufficiently drastic view of their staffing requirements, he will consider the desirability of appointing a number of business and industrial consultants to review the staff problem in every Ministry and to recommend what reductions can be achieved without loss of efficiency.
§ Mr. H. BrookeGovernment Departments do not determine the size of their staffs in their own sole discretion. They have to keep within limits worked out every six months in agreement with the Treasury, which by general reputation is not a soft-hearted body. The use of business and industrial consultants in suitable circumstances is by no means ruled out, but I have no doubt that, in general, staff economy and efficiency are most successfully promoted from within the Service, by those charged with this responsibility.
§ 46. Mr. Dudley Williamsasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the long period of delay there is before a decision is given as to whether the employment of a civil servant will be 128W continued after he has reached the age of 60 years; and whether he will take steps to expedite such decisions.
§ Mr. H. BrookeNo. But if the hon. Member has any particular case in mind and will give me the details, I will gladly look into it.