§ Mr. McAllionTo ask the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide figures for the reduction in numbers of posts as a result of contracting out since 1979 in his Department and agencies for which he has responsibility.
§ Mr. EggarThe information requested has not been systematically recorded. Since 1979 the number of staff in the Department of Trade and Industry or its predecessor Departments has fallen from over 18,000 to under 12,000. How much of this reduction came as a result of contracting out is not centrally recorded.