HC Deb 16 June 1988 vol 135 cc267-8W
Dr. Twinn

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the number of staff in post in central Government Departments at 1 April.

Mr. Major

On 1 April 1988 there were 579,627 staff in post in central Government Departments. Of these 506,565 were non-industrials and 73,062 were industrials.

The Government's declared target for this date has therefore been met. Staff in post figures will continue to be reported on a quarterly basis, although the move to running cost controls in place of manpower ceilings will give departments more freedom to adjust between manpower and other running cost expenditure in the pursuit of best value for money.