§ Mr. Frank Allaunasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many jobs have been abolished in the Civil Service since May 1979; and if he will estimate the extent to which such jobs have been transferred to (a) other parts of the public sector and (b) the private sector.
§ Mr. HayhoeInformation is not available in terms of the number of jobs abolished since May 1979. But between 1 April 1979 and 1 April 1982, the number of civil servants fell by nearly 66,000.
Decisions on the transfer of work out of Civil Service is a matter for individual Ministers. But it is estimated that since April 1980 some 1,600 staff have been saved as a result of the transfer of work to other parts of the public sector and 7,600 from transfers to the private sector. This is done only where it is commensurate with sound management and good value for money.