§ 29. Mr. Wrigglesworthasked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement about the cuts in Civil Service expenditure announced on 15th December by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
§ Mr. Charles R. MorrisAs my right hon. Friend announced on 15th December, there will be reductions amounting to £30 million in the costs of the Civil Service in 1977–78 and £10 million in 1978–79. The savings for 1977–78 are being achieved through a close scrutiny of the financial Estimates for that year. Consideration will be given to the savings proposed for 1978–79 when that year's Estimates are scrutinised.
§ Mr. WrigglesworthIs my hon. Friend aware of the grave concern that uncertainty is causing in the Civil Service? Will he please give an assurance that there will be full consultations with the trade unions on expenditure cuts? Will he also say whether there will be any redundancies and, if so, where, and whether, as has been suggested, there will be any delay in dispersal as a result of the cuts?
§ Mr. MorrisThe moratorium on Government capital building projects will inevitably involve minor delays in individual proposals for the dispersal of Departments, but that question is under close consideration and I hope in the foreseeable future to make a statement. The Government are concerned that consultation with the Civil Service unions shall proceed on a close and continuing basis.
§ Mr. Hal MillerIn considering the targets for reduced Civil Service expenditure, has the ministerial or departmental eye lighted on the number of professional people, such as architects, engineers and statisticians, employed in the Civil Service and the possibility of their work being undertaken on a consultancy basis by private firms?
§ Mr. MorrisYes, but I think even the hon. Gentleman would accept that that would not of itself result in public expenditure savings. Whether by ministerial or departmental eye, every aspect of expenditure on Government administration is under constant surveillance.