HC Deb 24 October 1984 vol 65 cc679-80
7. Mr. Thurnham

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has plans to make further savings to reduce the projected total running costs of his Department in 1984–85.

Mr. Patrick Jenkin

I use MINIS and my Department's budgeting systems to keep these costs under close and regular review.

Mr. Thurnham

Will my right hon. Friend indicate the reduction in staff numbers and the consequent economies achieved since he took office?

Mr. Jenkin

Since the Government took office in 1979, over the past five years the number of staff in post in the Department of the Environment, central, has been reduced by 41 per cent., from over 11,000 to 6,600. The number in the Property Services Agency has been reduced by 30 per cent., from 39,000 to 27,200. After allowing for the cost of work contracted out, the resulting savings over the five-year period amount to almost £200 million.

Mr. Tony Banks

We notice with great interest the new Minister for Local Government, who comes like hangman's rope to support the Secretary of State. Will the right hon. Gentleman tell his new Minister how many staff are employed in the Department of the Environment on matters associated with the abolition of the GLC and the metropolitan county councils and how much it is costing?

Mr. Jenkin

If the hon. Gentleman cares to table a question, we shall give him an answer.

Mr. Farr

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on the economies he has made in his Department. Will he have a look at another way in which substantial economies can be made in many midland cities—by encouraging some reluctant city councils to stop sitting on large parcels of derelict land which, for some reason or other, they seem to be disinclined to sell for housing purposes?

Mr. Jenkin

My hon. Friend will have noticed that we recently served the first notices under the land registration procedures under the 1980 Act. We have already had success, in that some of those parcels of land have now been sold. We shall pursue others to completion. On the basis of our success, I give the warning that if authorities unnecessarily hold on to land for which they have no immediate purpose, we will take steps to ensure that it is put on the market to be used for housing and other purposes. It is absurd that substantial quantities of often urban land are sterilised in this way because public authorities are not prepared to dispose of them.

Mr. Cohen

Could not the Secretary of State save some of his Department's costs by scrapping the advertising campaign—[Interruption]—on the unpopular Rates Act, which is just a waste of taxpayers' money?

Mr. Jenkin

I think the hon. Gentleman recognises that he has scored an own goal.