§ 37. Mr. Hollandasked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the total number of civil servants who will be employed by his Department on 31st December, 1968; and how this compares with the equivalent date in 1967.
§ 34. Mr. Tom Boardmanasked the Minister of Labour what decrease in recruitment to his Department during 1968 will result from the policy announced by the Government on 16th January.
§ Mr. GunterThe total staff of my Department on 31st December, 1967, was 29,920, including 970 industrial staff. On 31st December, 1968, I expect to have some 500 fewer non-industrial civil servants. Not all the decrease will result from the policy announced on 16th January.
§ Mr. HollandCan the right hon. Gentleman give slightly more detailed information about which of the functions of his Department will have to stand the greatest burden as a result of the cuts which he has announced?
§ Mr. GunterI do not think that there will be any burden on any section. There will, I am sure, be a fall in unemployment, which will give us some relief there; and there will be a saving of staff 21 as a result of the introduction of payment of selective employment refunds and premia by computer.
§ Mr. ScottAs the staff of his Ministry rose by over 1,500 between July and October, what has changed so dramatically so that a decrease is now possible?
§ Mr. GunterWhen I bring blessings, they are not well received. There has been no dramatic change. This is our assessment for the coming year, and I had hoped that it would be well received.
§ Mr. Kenneth LewisHow many are employed in administering the Selective Employment Tax—the question I missed a minute ago?
§ Mr. GunterYes, I remember that. I do not know whether it is in order, Mr. Speaker, to answer a previous question on this, but the answer is "None".