§ 39. Sir T. Beamishasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, or in a White Paper, the recommendations of the panel set up under Sir Robert Bellinger to consider savings in man-power in the non-industrial Civil Service, showing which have been implemented and the saving in manpower that has resulted in each case, to the latest available date, which have been accepted in principle, and which have been rejected.
§ Mr. ShoreThe members of Sir Robert Bellinger's panel are contributing valuable experience and knowledge to a wide range of problems in the Civil Service, and their recommendations have proved an important factor in our consideration of the control of Civil Service numbers and the promotion of increased efficiency. Their work does not, however, lend itself to the publication of a table in the form suggested by the Question.
§ Sir T. BeamishSince the Prime Minister appointed the panel nearly 18 months ago with a great flourish, and since at the latest count there were 62,200 more non-industrial civil servants employed by the present Government than any previous Government, what is the reason for this extraordinary conspiracy of silence? Why are we being kept in the dark about it?
§ Mr. ShoreI cannot accept that there has been a conspiracy of silence. Sir Robert Bellinger's panel has been getting on with the job, advising Government Departments about particular aspects of their work with a view to seeing what economies might be obtained. This is not the easy, straightforward matter which some hon. Members opposite seem to think. Most civil servants are engaged in carrying out policies, and these policies have to be continued.