Mr. De la Sère:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants there were on 1st September, 1939; how many were added during the war up to 1st September, 1945, when this Govern- ment took office; and what was the total number employed on 1st December, 1947.

On 1st April, 1939—the latest available prewar return—the total number of non-industrial civil servants was 399,600. On 1st July, 1945—the last quarterly return before the change of Government—the corersponding number was 716,350. By 1st October, 1947—the last available return—numbers had been reduced to 690,600.

Mr. De la Bère:

Is it not very desirable further to reduce this number, in view of the very undesirable practice of the direction of labour? Why not employ these people on really productive work?

Most of them are on productive work—productive administration.

Mr. De la Bère:

Chaos and confusion.