§ Q6. Mr. John Wellsasked the Prime Minister to what extent his policy on the size of the Civil Service has changed since 26th June, 1970.
§ Mr. MaudlingI have been asked to reply.
There is no change.
§ Mr. WellsWill my right hon. Friend draw the Prime Minister's attention to the fact that the Civil Service has increased rather than decreased since that speech? Not only has the Civil Service as such increased, but the staffs of training boards have increased. Will he convey to the Prime Minister our hope that he will take Government off the backs of the people?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe trend in the industrial and the non-industrial Civil Service has been established for some time. When we took office, it was rising in the case of the non-industrial Civil Service and falling in the case of the industrial Civil Service. The latter trend is continuing. The total of non-industrial Civil Servants at 1st April was under 243 500,000 compared with the ceiling figure of 505,000 set by the last Government.
§ Mr. FernyhoughWhatever fall there may have been in the period which the right hon. Gentleman mentioned, will it not disappear as and when the value-added tax is introduced?
§ Mr. MaudlingThe value-added tax will involve a certain number of civil servants but will be only one element in a total picture in which we carry out our undertakings.