§ John McDonnellTo ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will make a statement on1594W the proposals drafted by his Department's senior management team for up to 18,000 job cuts in his Department. [154876]
§ Maria EagleThis is not a new development. Staff in the Department for Work and Pensions were originally advised in a letter from the Permanent Secretary in October 2002, that as part of the Department's modernisation programme, staffing levels would be reduced between 2003 to 2006. The plans were discussed with the trade unions at the time.