§ Captain Kerbyasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the report by the General Secretary of the Civil Service Clerical Association, a copy of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham, to the effect that the Treasury has ignored reorganisation plans put forward by the Association, which would have allowed a saving of 10 per cent. on staff; what plans he has to effect a financial saving through a reduction of staff; and if he will make a statement.
§ Sir E. BoyleYes. The Association has proposed a reallocation of work between clerical assistants and clerical officers, to be accompanied by increased pay for both grades. The cost of giving more pay would, in their view, be offset by the staff savings which they assert would result from reallocation of work. In 1957, when these proposals were first considered, the Treasury was unable to accept the conclusions reached by the Association. The matter is, however, now in course of re-examination. More generally, staff complements are kept under constant review.