§ 77. Mr. Chapmanasked the Minister for the Civil Service what have been the total reductions in the numbers of non-industrial and industrial civil servants, respectively, since May 1979; and by how much these figures differ from the annual reductions made between 1974 and 1979.
§ Mr. ChannonBetween 1 April 1979 and 1 October 1980, non-industrial staff numbers fell by 22,600 and industrial staff by 12,600. Between April 1974 and April 1979, non-industrial staff numbers rose by 53,900 and industrial staff numbers fell by 13,700.
§ Mr. ChapmanI welcome that trend, but will my right hon. Friend confirm that the Government are on course with the planned reductions to a total of 630,000 by 1974? Will he confirm also that that target can be achieved, in theory, by recruiting only three new entrants to the Civil Service for every four who leave voluntarily or retire naturally?
§ Mr. ChannonYes, I can confirm that we ale on course to achieve that aim. I have not done the mathematics, but I think that my hon. Friend is broadly right in his assumptions.