§ Mr. Ioan Evansasked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees in the Civil Service have been replaced by certain services being transferred to the private sector since May 1979; and at what cost.
§ Mr. HayhoeInformation on the number of Civil Service posts saved through transfer of services to the private sector has been held centrally only since 1 April 1980. Between that date and 1 April 1982 a reduction of 7,600 posts has been achieved in this way at a gross saving in pay costs of some £50 million in a full year. Decisions on the transfer of services to the private sector is a matter for individual Ministers, and is done only where it is commensurate with sound management and good value for money.