§ Mr. Arthur Lewisasked the Minister for the Civil Service why the number of non-industrial civil servants increased from 412,900 in 1964 to 491,300 in January, 1970, and why salaries and wages increased from £636,425 in 1963–64 to £1,031,304 in 1969–70; and if he will now take action to reduce them.
§ Mr. ShoreThe increase in numbers reflects necessary increases in the volume of work; the increase in salaries and wages reflects this increase in numbers and changes in Civil Service pay rates. It is our intention to keep the size and the cost of the Civil Service to the minimum consistent with the tasks it has to carry out.