HC Deb 03 July 1995 vol 263 cc14-5
30. Mr. Jenkin

To ask the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster how many civil servants the Government or their agencies now employ; and what was the equivalent figure in 1979. [30148]

Mr. Horam

The number of civil servants is 516,100 today, and it was 735,400 in 1979—a reduction of 30 per cent.

Mr. Jenkin

May I congratulate my hon. Friend and the Government on the very substantial reduction in costs that that entails, but what is the next step for all the next steps agencies, which continue to employ a large number of people? Would it not be sensible, as they are market-tested, that, where they are successful, they are given the opportunity to transfer to the private sector and become businesses in their own right?

Mr. Tony Banks

Lucky they don't market-test you lot.

Mr. Horam

The question of privatisation is considered when a next steps agency is set up. We then, under the existing procedures, have a period of five years before that question can be considered again. None the less, I can assure my hon. Friend that that timetable will be adhered to, and that any question of privatisation for a next steps agency will be thoroughly examined.

Mr. Dalyell

May I ask a question of which I have given notice to the Department?

Mr. Foulkes

How did my hon. Friend know that he was going to be called?

Mr. Morgan

Tam Dalyell's charter.

Mr. Dalyell

I am sorry; this is a very precise question, which is worrying people in the Scottish Office. Is it quite proper that Mr. Gregor Mackay, an official of the Scottish Office, paid out of the public purse, should work in the office of one of the candidates for the leadership of a political party? Is there not some argument for having a code of conduct and making these things very precise?

Mr. Horam

I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman. Indeed, there is a great deal of point in having a code of conduct. There is, in fact, a code of conduct which makes it plain that people should not indulge in party political activities when they are paid from public funds. The gentleman about whom the hon. Gentleman is concerned is on leave at the moment.