HC Deb 22 July 2004 vol 424 cc484-6W
Mr. Letwin

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the estimated reductions in work force planned in(a) local government, (b) the Scottish Executive and (c) the Welsh Assembly. [184705]

Adam Price

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what the basis was for his estimate of 20,000 job reductions in the devolved Administration and in local government in England and Wales announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review; [184753]

(2) whether he (a) requested and (b) received estimates for the number of job reductions in the devolved Administrations and in local government announced in the Comprehensive Spending Review from (i) the National Assembly for Wales, (ii) the Scottish Executive, (iii) the Northern Ireland Executive and (iv) the Local Government Association. [184754]

Mr. Wiggin

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what methodology was used to calculate the reduction by 20,000 of jobs in devolved Governments; [184561]

(2) with which National Assembly for Wales Government members he agreed the civil service jobs reductions in Wales; [184562]

(3) how many Civil Service jobs will be lost in Wales as a result of his announcement in the 2004 Spending Review; [184563]

(4) what consultations there will be with the National Assembly for Wales before the civil service jobs reductions he has announced take place. [184564]

Mr. Boateng

[holding answer 16 July 2004]The devolved Administrations in Scotland and Wales and Northern Ireland Ministers have announced that they are engaged in Spending Review efficiency and evaluation exercises as ambitious as those in England with reductions also in back office and related areas; and with the 2.5 per cent. annual efficiency savings to which local government in England is committed, this would allow for a reduction of 20,000 posts across local government and the devolved Administrations.

The devolved Administrations will be making their own announcements in the context of their spending plans in the autumn and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and other Government Departments will work in partnership with the Local Government Association to help local government drive forward the efficiency agenda.

Mr. Letwin

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the amounts, by Department, which make up the total overlap of £5.650 million efficiencies across central and local government referred to in Table 2.1 of the 2004 Spending Review Report. [184707]

Mr. Boateng

The local government proposed savings of £6,450 million includes a forecast of £5,650 million of savings including, in procurement, productive time, and public finance and regulation, which are included in the proposed savings for Department for Education and Skills, Department for Transport, Department for Health, Home Office, Department for Work and Pensions, Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, and the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister. I refer the hon. Member to chapter C of Sir Peter Gershon's report for further details of individual departmental efficiency programmes.

Sue Doughty

To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many civil service jobs will be lost in the Guildford constituency as a result of the cuts announced in the July Spending Review; [186045]

(2) which (a) Departments and (b) agencies will make job cuts in the Guildford constituency as a result of the July Spending Review; [186046]

(3) what services in the Guildford constituency will be affected by the job cuts announced in the July Spending Review. [186047]

Mr. Boateng

There will be an overall gross reduction in posts of 84,150 by 2008 and Departments will pursue these reductions in line with business need. Departments continue to plan the implementation of their efficiency programmes.

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