§ 14. Mr. Andersonasked the Secretary of State for Wales what reduction he expects in local government employment in Wales in each of the next three years.
§ Mr. Wyn RobertsOver the next three years, all local authorities will need to reduce their manpower to achieve the level of expenditure which the Government consider acceptable. It is the responsibility of individual local authorities to examine critically their manpower levels and, in the light of their particular needs and circumstances, to make the necessary reductions.
§ Mr. AndersonDoes the Minister remember those advertisements during the last election campaign—" Labour isn't working "—involving some paid actors and a long queue of "unemployed"? What does he now say about the unemployment figures in Wales that are being added to directly by the Government leaning on local authorities? In this [...] Steel Corporation, the Government cannot shuffle off 1033 their responsibilities for increasing unemployment in Wales
§ Mr. RobertsThe hon. Gentleman is not right in thinking that local authorities have yet played their part in the reduction of public expenditure. Between December 1978 and December 1979, the reduction in manpower in local authorities in Wales was 0.2 per cent., compared with 5 per cent., between May 1979 and May 1980, in the Welsh Office. It is essential that local government plays its part in reducing public expenditure so that we may decrease interest rates and increase employment.
§ Mr. HoosonDoes not my hon. Friend agree that it is most important that the taxation burden on the public should be reduced by cutting the number of public employees? Does not my hon. Friend deplore the fact that the worst trends among Welsh local authorities have been with authorities which have large Labour majorities?
§ Mr. RobertsMy hon. Friend is right. His authority of Powys has reduced its manpower by about 3.4 per cent. The Local Government, Planning and Land (No. 2) Bill will require key information, including manpower statistics, to be provided by local authorities. Councillors and ratepayers will then be able to form better judgments.
§ Mr. WigleyDoes the Minister recall the words that appeared in the North Wales Weekly News of 19 April 1979:
Vote Wyn Roberts for more jobs "?Where are they?
§ Mr. RobertsIf local government follows our policy of reducing public expenditure there is a chance of our reducing interest rates and then of creating truly productive jobs.
§ Mr. Alec JonesDoes not the Minister agree that local authorities are in a better position than central Government to judge the needs of their areas? Therefore, should not decisions on manning levels, expenditure and services provided be left largely to the local authorities?
§ Mr. RobertsI think that local authorities can be assisted considerably by the publication of their manpower statistics. The fact that central Government have been able to reduce their manpower by wastage and increased efficiency means 1034 that local authorities could make similar reductions in their manpower levels which currently stand at a record high.