asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give the names of officers in his Department in receipt of salaries exceeding £9 per week, that have been appointed since 1st April, 1940; and state their occupation prior to appointment?

Since 1st April, 1940, 448 persons have been appointed at salaries exceeding £9 per week. Although the further details desired could be obtained, the work in extracting the information would involve considerable time and labour, and having regard to the many urgent wartime tasks which are being undertaken by the staff in my Department, I should be grateful if the hon. Member would reconsider his request.

Is it not a fact that the Minister of Information has been asked for similar particulars and has supplied them? If one Minister can do this, why cannot another?

I do not refuse to supply them, but the staff of the Department is full up with work, and unless there is an extraordinary reason why a list of these people and their previous occupations should be compiled, I suggest that the Department should be allowed to get on with its ordinary work.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that it is within the knowledge of those engaged in industry and those in close touch with the national effort that a great many of these men have been of great value at a critical time in the nation's history?