HL Deb 21 October 1969 vol 304 cc1610-1
LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.

[The Question was as follows:

To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the recently announced reorganisation of Government Departments and ministerial responsibilities will, when completed, result in a saving or an increase in the net total of civil servants.]

THE LORD PRIVY SEAL (LORD SHACKLETON)

My Lords, as the detailed redistribution of work is put into effect, the need to achieve all possible economies in Civil Service manpower will not be forgotten. It is too early to give any precise estimates, but it would be misleading to hold out the promise oil great economy of staff resulting directly from these moves. The essence of the changes is a redistribution of essential work in the interests of quality and speed.

LORD BALFOUR OF INCHRYE

My Lords, if I put down a Question in a few weeks' time, would the Leader of the House be able to give somewhat more specific information as to the likelihood of any economy or any decreased expenditure due to a reduced Civil Service?

LORD SHACKLETON

My Lords, I should not wish to discourage the noble Lord from putting down a Question on the subject, but I should have thought my Answer made clear that I should not be able in a few weeks' time to make any detailed estimate of that kind. It is a major reorganisation in the interests of greater efficiency. In fact, the control of Civil Service manpower is operated much more directly through the efforts of my Department.