HC Deb 16 February 1983 vol 37 c292
57. Mr. Parry

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what subjects he plans to discuss at his next meeting with the Civil Service unions.

Mr. Hayhoe

Plans for my next meeting with the Civil Service unions have not yet been made.

Mr. Parry

Is the Minister aware of the concern and low morale of civil servants in the DHSS in the north-west region over staffing levels, and the grave danger of the social security system grinding to a halt? Will he ask his right hon. Friend to examine that serious problem?

Mr. Hayhoe

I was not aware of any particular problem in the north-west region as described by the hon. Gentleman, but I will certainly draw my right hon. Friend's attention to the point that he has been made.

Mr. Chapman

When my hon. Friend next meets the Civil Service unions, will he discuss with them the reduction in the number of civil servants since 1979? Will he confirm that the Government are on target and say whether there have been many forced redundancies to achieve that considerable reduction?

Mr. Hayhoe

The latest figures show that the Civil Service is now some 80,000 smaller than it was in May 1979. That is a very substantial reduction and we are firmly on course to achieve the target of 630,000 by April next year. A substantial number of those reductions has been achieved through the processes of natural wastage and without enforced redundancies.