asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the number of civil servants, permanent and temporary, serving on each of the following dates: 1st April, 1924; 1st April, 1929; 1st April, 1934; 1st April, 1939; and 1st April, 1946.

The statistics available show the number of civil servants serving on the first working day of January in each year. The figures for this date in each of the following years are:—

All unestablished officers are grouped under the heading "temporary."

The figures do not include (a) persons employed on relief schemes, (b) persons employed on a fee basis and (c) artisans, labourers, etc., employed on schemes or works of a temporary nature (other than relief schemes) who are not regarded as civil servants.

It must be remembered that a considerable proportion of the staff shown above is employed in the Department of Posts and Telegraphs—in 1946, 44 per cent. of the total.

asked the Minister for Finance if he will state the total cost of Civil Service pay and allowances, for each of the following years— 1924-25; 1929-30; 1934-35; and 1938-39; and also the estimated cost for the year 1946-47.

Figures showing the total cost of Civil Service pay and allowances for the years mentioned are not readily available as the census of staff is taken on the first working day of January in each year. Particulars as on this date for the years 1930, 1935, 1939 and 1946 are as follows:—

Comparable figures for the year 1925 are not readily available.

The figures do not include the cost of (a) persons employed on relief schemes, (b) persons employed on a fee basis and (c) artisans, labourers, etc., employed on schemes or works of a temporary nature (other than relief schemes) who are not regarded as civil servants.

It must be remembered that a considerable proportion of the cost shown above is attributable to the Department of Posts and Telegraphs—in 1946 32 per cent. of the total.