§ 36. Sir G. Nabarroasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is yet able to estimate for the period from 1973 to 1980 the increase or decrease in the Civil Service consequent upon accession of Great Britain to the European Economic Community.
§ Mr. David HowellIt is still too early to make a firm estimate.
§ Sir G. NabarroWhy is it too early when everybody knows, from studying the European Economic Community, that it is dominated by a bumbling bureaucracy in Brussels? I make no apology for alliteration in this matter. Surely we are entitled to be told whether our Civil Service will increase, either in Brussels or in this country, to cope with the onerous burdens of administration in the E.E.C., should we unfortunately enter it?
§ Mr. HowellIf Parliament decides that we should enter the E.E.C., there will be some switching of staff to new tasks. But that does not mean that an increase in overall Civil Service numbers is inevitable. We are continually on the look-out 491 for economies in staff in all areas of the Civil Service.
§ Mr. HefferIn order to save the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) a great deal of embarrassment——
§ Sir G. NabarroI am not embarrassed.
§ Mr. Heffer—will the hon. Gentleman arrange that, prior to the next General Election, an indication is given to Conservative candidates of which of the party's pledges it is seriously intended to keep and which ones it is not intended to keep?
§ Mr. HowellAny serious approach would reveal that cutting the Civil Service or reorganising the bureaucracy cannot be done by instant government. That was the approach of our predecessors. Luckily, the present Government adopt a more mature and sensible approach.