HC Deb 23 January 1980 vol 977 cc426-7
1. Mr. John Evans

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is satisfied with the efficiency of the Civil Service.

The Minister of State, Civil Service Department (Mr. Paul Channon)

I am never satisfied. But progress is being made all the time.

Mr. Evans

Is the Minister aware of the near collapse in morale among engineers in the Civil Service as a result of their recent arbitration award—if that is the correct word for it? Will he accept that that collapse in morale will gravely weaken and endanger the efficiency of the Civil Service? What does he intend to do about it?

Mr. Channon

I very much hope that that is not the case. The award to which the hon. Member referred is the award by the independent Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. I have no control over its findings. It is an independent body and it has been the practice in the past for both sides to agree to its findings.

Mr. Henderson

Does my hon. Friend agree that in many cases the organisation methods of the Civil Service are not at all bad, but the problem that really arises is whether whole Departments need to exist at all? Does he agree that this is primarily a political question for Ministers and perhaps for departmentally related Select Committees as well?

Mr. Channon

The important point that we, as a House of Commons, must decide is whether a great many of the functions of government need to continue. This is continuously under review and I welcome my hon. Friend's support.

Mr. McElhone

Is the Minister aware that the efficiency and morale of the Civil Service in West Central Scotland would be further enhanced if he would give an assurance that there will be no redundancies at the Post Office savings bank in Glasgow? Also, can he tell us when a firm date will be anounced for the dispersal of defence jobs to Glasgow?

Mr. Channon

There was a debate in the House on dispersal recently. I shall draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the hon. Member's comments. The question of the national savings bank is not for my Department, but, as I told the House on 6 December, we hope to have very few redundancies.